Alumna Bessie Lim: Updates since Graduation
L-R: Bessie Lim, Jade, Wong Ee Yuing
Alumna Bessie Lim graduated with a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies in 2010 despite having challenges with her vision even back then. She always used to sit in front of the class so that she could hear better as she could not see the slides. She would also frantically take down the notes as the lessons went by.
Over the years, her sight gradually deteriorated to the point where she lost her sense of depth and perception and she had to carry two canes, one white cane on the left hand for people who are visually impaired and a support cane on the right hand for her slipped disc problem. Bessie had no third cane to carry things so she decided to apply for a guide dog as a better solution. One day while making carrot soup, she dropped a small piece of carrot and she could not detect it. Several hours later, she noticed a pile of something black on the kitchen table top and it was moving. These had to be ants and she had a lot of cleaning to do and Bessie lost confidence in herself in being able to take care of a guide dog and soon withdrew her application.
A for Aleph!
Front Row (L-R): Sze-Chieh Winslow, Ying Swant, Sherlyn Khongsai, Sofia Manee
Back row (L-R): Myo Zaw, Joshua MG, Sila Sethsophonkul, Rammungchan Phungsok, Soreichan Ningshen, Themreiso Lamlang Awungshi
Two weeks before we start the new academic year, we will hold an orientation program called Aleph for our new cohort of students. We warmly welcome our 13 new students! The international students from this cohort are from East Asia, India, Myanmar, Philippines, and Thailand.
Aleph – the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet – signifies a new start and more to come for our new students. This two-week program is an immersion experience to orientate and prepare them for the first semester at EAST.
Aleph was held from 28 June to 12 July. We kicked off with a Welcome Program, where our student council president started with a time of worship then followed by a simple yet fun ice breaker game to get everyone to remember each other’s name quickly!
Alumna Naleng Real: Reflects on Recent Trip to EAST
Cambodian alumna Naleng Real who graduated in 2007 with a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies has from time to time found it refreshing to return to EAST for an intensive course to re-tool herself when the opportunity arises. Recently in May, Naleng was able to attend her younger co-worker’s (Chakriya Sok) graduation at EAST’s 30th Commencement and attend Dr Guy Saffold’s Organisational Change Strategies intensive course. Below is a short reflection by Naleng.
Motivation to Return to EAST and Singapore
After EAST in Singapore, my journey with EAST has been profoundly impactful, and when the opportunity arose to return for an intensive course on Organizational Change Strategies, I eagerly seized it. This decision stemmed from my respect for the institution and my desire to further enhance my skills to benefit my ministry in Cambodia.The decision to return to EAST for the intensive course at EAST are the following. Firstly, the curriculum of the course, designed by Dr. Guy Saffold, addresses the challenges and strategies of organizational change within Christian ministries. It is highly relevant to my current role as a project director for the “Sustainability Project” at Fountain of Hope in Cambodia. The practical nature of the course promises to equip me with advanced skills to guide my organization through the necessary adaptations and transformations to ensure sustainability.
Word of Mouth, Internet or Google?
Brandon Chan, 2024 MDiv in Intercultural Studies and Theological Studies; President’s Leadership Award and Academic Excellence Award recipient.
It started with a Google Map
Below is the story of how one of our students stumbled upon EAST, took on a visiting class, and how through his journey of faith, he took on leadership role as a Student Council President. In the recent 30th Commencement, he received not just an Academic Excellence Award but also the President’s Leadership Award for being a servant leader during his time at EAST.
A recent survey showed that most students found EAST through “word of mouth”, “internet search” and “EAST website”; 10% came through “others.”
Brandon Chan’s “others” was ‘Google Maps’.
A Small Act of Kindness
Graduate Haimi Horam (right) with his fellow classmate Kim Hak Soo (left) from South Korea.
Haimi Horam (Manipur, North-East India), 46, who completed his last school modules back in India reminisces about the ones who made the difference to his EAST journey.
I still recall how I felt when I first touched down in Singapore in 2018. Everything was fast. New. Confusing.
At my first class, I did not even know how to set up a Word document. But with help from my classmates and teachers, I progressed to creating Powerpoint and videos, and conducting Zoom outreaches (when Covid-19 hit).
India has 1,400 unreached people groups (1.4 billion people); no way we can reach this country without also using online tools and approaches.
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