It's Indy....again! (to be the opening "act" in a video for Singapore school children)

Somehow, whenever any of my work is featured anywhere, Indy gets the spotlight!

This time, Indy's book will be featured in a documentary produced by the Singapore Ministry of Education. A page from Indy's book will be read in the opening of this video which will be used to inculcate kindness to animals in Singapore schools.

Isn't this exciting?

The emails below should be self-explanatory (all produced with the permission of MOE's officer, Ms Asnida Daud).

I thank Ms Asnida very much...for featuring Indy (!) and of course, for her initiative in doing this for the benefit of street animals and the children of Singapore (hopefully, their parents, too).

From: Asnida DAUD (MOE)
Date: Thu, Nov 7, 2013 at 4:53 PM
Subject: SEEK PERMISSION_MOE ETD
To: "chankahyein@gmail.com" <chankahyein@gmail.com>

Dear Dr Chan

We, at the Educational Technology Division (ETD) of the Ministry of Education (MOE), among other things produce audio and video resources to support the school curriculum.

We are in the midst of producing an educational video programme on Responsible Pet Ownership with a title, ‘ Suara Si Comel’ under a Curriculum Unit Bernaluri Tetapi Tidak Bersuara to support the teaching and learning of the Malay Language, targeted at secondary level. This short documentary will include suggestions on responsible pet ownership and advocating volunteerism in animal welfare.

In our research, your credentials surfaced for your advocacy in educating and create greater awareness , respect and compassion for rescued animals like cats and dogs. I have read and owned all your books . They are indeed ‘Gift of Love and Kindness ‘ as you stated.

ETD/MOE would like to request for your permission to give clearance to feature some of your content and suggestions in your video and books . We will also credit you in our programme .

MOE is a non-profit making organisation. The completed video programme will not be sold but put online at MOE resource portal, OPAL, a password protected online educational portal accessible to registered teachers in Singapore schools. The programme may also be broadcast on free-to-air TV when schools are closed during an emergency situation to facilitate learning from home.

I am looking forward to your favourable reply .

Thank you.

Asnida Bte Daud

Educational Technology Officer/Producer , Media Design & Technologies for Learning Branch, Educational Technology Division

Ministry of Education • 1 North Buona Vista Drive, Singapore 138675 • http://www.moe.gov.sg

Actually, it has come full circle, because I learnt all about TNRM from Dr Tan Chek Wee, a Singaporean geriatrician who is active in cat rescue. He introduced me to the Cat Welfare Society of Singapore. So, the credit of my work goes to Dr Tan and the CWS. I actually devoted an entire article in Indy's book to this.

From: Asnida DAUD (MOE)
Date: Fri, Nov 8, 2013 at 4:54 PM
Subject: RE: SEEK PERMISSION_MOE ETD
To: Chan Kah Yein <chankahyein@gmail.com>

Hi Dr Chan

Thank you for your replies. Yes I read Indy Jones and  I get to know about the  TNRM Programme in the book first before  finding out about it from the Cat Welfare Society of Singapore . There’s a newspaper coverage recently about  community cats management covered in Singapore amongst Malay community and they want are advocating this programme.

I am still in the midst of putting things together. Still getting approval from my supervisors. If at any point , we are going to use the books or anything pertaining to the books ,I will make it official first and keep you in the loop . it’s a short video resource for the students after all but we want to make it a meaningful one. We are extremely careful about copyrights and quotes too.

The final cut is in the hands of my executive producers.  I will update you of the progress nevertheless. I would like to thank you for all the efforts that you have done . Personally I think you are an angel . Now I feel like contributing something to animal welfare in Singapore. I hope this video will help eventually.

Thank you .

Asnida Bte Daud

And here it is:

From: Asnida DAUD (MOE)
Date: Wed, Nov 20, 2013 at 2:34 PM
Subject: RE: SEEK PERMISSION_MOE ETD
To: Chan Kah Yein <chankahyein@gmail.com>

Dear Dr Chan

How are you? We have in the process of editing our docu. We used your book in the opening sequence of our docu .(please refer to the jpg attachment)

As you can see, our talent here is reading a page of your book Indy Jones .  I chose ‘Working with Animals’ page . We pan the shot to the next page which shows 2 cute kittens being fed using syringe .

The dialogue accompanying  that scene is on how fragile the little kittens were and that kittens like them needed extreme tender loving care by the owner.

You can see from the photo , there’s a beautiful lovebird on the shoulder of the girl. The one delivering the line is supposedly from the POV of the bird .We use Voice Over for this scene. So that’s how the scene goes .

The rest of the docu will be interviews with the personnel who sat  on the board of Cat Welfare Society of Singapore .

Please advise me on how to include you in the credit roll.

IF you wish to blog on this now , you can do so because  I already include this in my docu.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for allowing us to use your material and personally give me some insights of the efforts you have done to save our furrfriends. That gave me some idea on my scripting too.

Thank you ,Dr Chan.

Best of regards;

Asnida Bte Daud

Maybe one day, our ministry will introduce lessons in kindness to animals in our schools.  Until then, let's keep going and let's work together to help the animals!

No time to lose, no time to lament, just look ahead and do it!