What does it take to be a hero?

You do not have to be popular, rich or ‘someone special’ to show kindness or to make an impact in someone else’s life. Any individual can make a difference. It is more about being willing to go the extra mile to lend a helping hand to someone who is in need.

Here are some instances on how simple actions can mean a lot to someone else.

Foreign workers shielded bus commuters from a heavy downpour

Image adapted from: https://www.facebook.com/winson.heng.9/posts/10213574567493278

While on his way to the bus stop, Winson Heng was caught in a heavy downpour. Although he fully expected to be drenched, to his surprise, a foreign worker shielded him with an umbrella.

At the bus stop itself, Winson noticed that 2 foreign workers had stationed themselves there to protect both boarding and alighting passengers from the rain. The workers did this entirely out of the goodness of their hearts, having sacrificed the time they could have used to rest from their construction work – all to lend a hand to people in need.

Woman helped an elderly man clean up after he soiled himself at a supermarket

From left: Madam Noriza at the ceremony with her (from left) future daughter-in-law Nurul Atiqah, son Muhammad Harifh Hafizan Zul, daughter Nur Liyana Zul and son Muhammad Nazri Zul. Image credit: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/good-samaritan-noriza-a-mansor-named-straits-times-singaporean-of-the-year-2015 ST PHOTO: OLIVIA HO

Mdm. Noriza A. Mansor was working as a bedsheet promoter at the FairPrice supermarket in Toa Payoh HDB Hub when she caught a whiff of a foul stench in the air. While everyone else around her avoided the source of the smell, she went to investigate its cause. That was when she discovered that the smell came from 76 years old Mr. Tan Soy Yong, who had defecated, while doing grocery shopping with his wife who was wheelchair-bound.

Mdm. Noriza then bought a new pair of shorts for Mr. Tan, before taking him out of the supermarket to help him clean up. Even after the incident, Mdm. Noriza continued to visit them on her off days, stating that she viewed them as her adoptive parents.

Mdm Noriza was accoladed with the title Straits Times Singaporean of the Year in 2015 due to her act of goodwill towards Mr. Tan. She expressed her hope to see more people acting out in kindness, especially towards people who are less fortunate.

Elderly man opens his home to other seniors who cannot care for themselves

Although Mr. Lee Cho Poon is 83 years old and an elderly person himself, he is not just independent and able to look after his own basic needs, but also able to care for other seniors under his roof.

Having volunteered to care for other old folk since 1997, he currently shares his home with 86-year-old Mr. Neo, who is bedridden and cannot move about on his own. Though technically Mr. Neo’s caregiver, Mr. Lee doesn’t view him as a patient, but rather a companion.

Mr Lee is motivated by two core values passed down to him by his parents: filial piety for the elderly and compassion. He derives satisfaction from seeing that his companions are in good health and spirits, and is known to have been struck by grief when they pass on.

Otter watchers came together to rescue a pup separated from its family

The two otter pups who were separated from their family Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/snail.fast?ref=br_rs

Acts of kindness extend beyond merely human-to-human interactions. This is proven through an incident involving the famous Bishan otter family when two of the younger ones were separated from their older siblings at Kallang Basin.

While one of them managed to find its way back to its family, the other wandered off and went missing. 15 otter watchers, including N. Sivasothi and Nick Soo, then worked tirelessly to search for the adolescent otter, which was exposed to threats from predators like large fish, herons, and snakes. Thankfully, the otter watchers managed to locate and retrieve the pup with a laundry basket before returning it to its family.