PETALING JAYA: After quitting his corporate job, Justin Cheah decided to join an NGO, Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK). But little did he know that he would end up as its marketing director.
Cheah said he took the job after being inspired by the vision of KSK’s founder, Tsem Rinpoche.
“Rinpoche’s vision is to improve the lives of the homeless by building a centre where they can live off the streets.
“I was inspired and felt KSK is the right NGO to join as it gives free food and provides other assistance to help the homeless.”
Cheah said joining KSK has added meaning to his life as he shares core values and beliefs that align with its mission and goals.
“I was working in a foreign bank before quitting to run my own business. I found out about KSK in 2007 and volunteered for about a year before eventually becoming their first full-time staff.
“A lot of my friends also believe that I have found my true calling. I see myself being able to spend the rest of my life living meaningfully and waking up each morning knowing that I can do something to benefit the community.”
Cheah said showing kindness and care for the less fortunate is one of his core beliefs. And it aligns so well with KSK’s vision. “Giving time to help others empowers them to break their problem cycle.”
He said he was initially worried about the challenges when transitioning from a high-paying job to working for an NGO.
“I was mainly worried about my ability to make ends meet and pay all my bills.
“I also worried about my career path, especially when I was still in my early 30s at the time and felt some pressure from society’s expectation to build a career.
“But once I decided to join KSK, I let go of my insecurities and just poured myself into the work at hand. I believed things will turn out well for me.
“It’s been 16 years since I made that fateful decision to quit my corporate job and join an NGO, but I have no regrets.”
Cheah said the best experience he has had working at KSK was seeing people he has helped return to show their gratitude.
“I feel so gratified when I see someone I previously helped return to KSK to say hello. In the end, it’s all about touching lives and making it better for them.”
Cheah said there was a lady who was going through the last days of her life after battling cancer. We traced her family and found her brother who told us about her life.
“Handling such emotionally charged situations is not easy, and I have to be in the right state of mind when working.
“I must always remain neutral in the cases that I deal with. Becoming emotional will affect our ability to make informed decisions, and this won’t be fair to those we are serving.
“Professionalism has to be there, just like a surgeon operating on a patient.”
Cheah said working at KSK has made him a better person. The most important value society must have, he said, is to bring about positive change to the less fortunate through empathy for our fellow men.
“I learnt that my problem isn’t that big at all compared with those we serve. It helped me to be more humble.
“We must always look out for one another because, without empathy, I wouldn’t have existed till now.”
