Retired cabby spends 8 years cleaning Ang Mo Kio carpark for free: 'Seeing it clean makes me happy'
A 78-year-old retired taxi driver in Singapore has spent eight years voluntarily cleaning a local carpark to stay active and contribute to his community. His dedication to maintaining the cleanliness of the space provides him with personal satisfaction and a sense of purpose in his retirement.
Why it matters
This story highlights the positive impact of volunteerism and active aging on the mental and physical well-being of the elderly.
After retiring as a taxi driver in 2015, 78-year-old Chen Jinhe (transliterated) has spent the past eight years voluntarily cleaning a carpark in Ang Mo Kio.
Chen, who worked as a taxi driver for 35 years, told Lianhe Zaobao that he "used to be out and about all day" and could not sit still at home after retiring.
A TikTok video shared by the Chinese newspaper on Sunday (Sept 6) shows Chen, dressed casually with a broom and dustpan in hand, going about his sweeping routine in a carpark near Block 533 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5.
He reportedly started by helping to clean a senior citizens' club on the ground floor of an HDB block but slowly expanded his efforts to the nearby open-air carpark.
He now reportedly spends more than two hours a day sweeping up the fallen leaves.
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