Hazel Heng Xin Yi, 15

School: Fuhua Secondary School

Topic: An email on a VIA project to honour deceased donors

Award: Merit, Senior Category, 2024

Dear Mrs Lim,

I am writing this email to you to propose a Values-In-Action project. During a family gathering at my aunt’s place, I happened to notice a jar full of folded stars. Out of curiosity, I went to take a closer look and my aunt saw me. I asked why this jar was there, and learnt that it was folded by her students to honour deceased organ donors. She said that it was significant to her and went on to share that her mother was also an organ donor. After her passing, her organs were donated to 4 different patients who were in need of a new organ. In the end, her organs managed to save 4 different lives and those patients are still living well and are in contact with my aunt. They were incredibly grateful and have decided to donate their organs if they are in decent condition once they pass on too. I was touched by her actions as it not only saved lives, but also inspired them to continue this legacy left by her. This jar of stars folded by my aunt's students honours deceased organ donors, including her dearest mother, which is why it is so significant to her as it symbolises remembrance and respect towards her mother.

Hence, I would like to propose for the school population to honour deceased organ donors and remember the legacy they left behind, through the Values-In-Action project. I would like to propose Organ Donation Awareness Week for our school. This Organ Donation Awareness Week aims to raise awareness not only about organ donation, but also the deceased who have donated their organs. During the week of this event, there will be guest speakers, storytelling sessions and interactive workshops throughout the week. It is a platform to honour deceased organ donors and let the students learn more about organ donation. Since we have Character and Citizenship Education lessons on Mondays and Form Teacher periods on Fridays, we can arrange speakers during this time to share stories about deceased organ donors just like how my aunt shared the story of her mother, to inspire students and help them learn more about organ donation. The speakers will share true stories of organ donors and what they have done for our society. Students will also learn more information about organ donation and its long-lasting benefits, inspiring them to continue the legacy of the organ donors. Throughout the whole week, we can have different interactive workshops. For example, we can have an art workshop where students create artworks to honour deceased organ donors. Students can create artworks like keychains, paintings or origami gratitude cards, writing the names of the donors and their well wishes for their family. The workshops will be held during recess and after school from 2pm to 4pm in the afternoon so that students that end school later can still participate. Materials will be provided by us for students. The artworks can be hung at the notice boards in the canteen, outside the general office or brought home by the students. Just like the jar of folded stars my aunt has, it serves to remind and honour those that have contributed to shorten the organ waiting list.

From this project, students can not only gain more insights on organ donation, but gain a sense of gratitude and empathy towards people in need. Statistics show that it takes 110 months to get a kidney transplant, imagine the pain the patient must go through. During Organ Donation Awareness Week, students will learn about how long it takes to get a new organ. Through the storytelling session, students will finally understand what it's like to be a patient in need of an organ. They will be able to understand the struggles of patients with their terrible quality of life. This helps students to develop empathy and will encourage them to lend a helping hand in the future by donating their organs as well. Despite not being the patient themselves, it helps to develop a grateful and positive mindset as they will be able to understand the pain and relief when patients finally get a transplant, thus being thankful toward the donors. Students can understand the importance of being grateful as they will understand how blessed they are with healthy organs and for the many things they have in life.

To end this off, I strongly believe that honouring organ donors is important because it is for us to celebrate their decisions and appreciate their selfless acts. Thanks to their generous decision, the lives of patients are saved. They get to live on with a better quality of life. It also shows how one's decisions impact other people. Furthermore, by honouring them, we are also supporting and comforting the grieving families of the deceased organ donors. By honouring them and showing our gratitude, we are letting them know that their loved ones who have passed on have done something remarkable for the society and the benefits such as saving lives are long lasting, allowing the grieving families to feel that the decision to donate organs was worth it.

In conclusion, I hope that you will agree with my proposal. I really wish to be able to give back to these heroes without capes. I hope that we will be able to hold this event so that we can all acknowledge their contributions and create a caring and empathetic society. Thank you for your attention and have an excellent day ahead.

Yours sincerely,

Hazel Heng Xin Yi
Executive Committee of the school’s Student Council

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the essays for the Live On Festival 2024 are those of the participants and are not endorsed by the National Organ Transplant Unit (Ministry of Health).

To learn more about organ donation and organ transplantation in Singapore, please visit www.liveon.gov.sg