Half pondering it was a prank by his buddies, paraplegic farmer Dr Billy Tang took a second earlier than he realised that he actually had been included in Britishpedia’s Profitable Individuals In Malaysia (third Version) 2021.
The founding father of social enterprise PWD Good FarmAbility felt humbled to be featured alongside distinguished figures the likes of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
“Having such an honour and given equal alternative to shine and contribute to nation-building with dignity is one thing I’m certainly endlessly grateful for,” stated Tang, 55, an agriculturist and researcher.
“Up until now, I have no idea who nominated me however it absolutely lifted my spirits. It made me really feel that I’m not alone on this battle as a paraplegic farmer, and jogs my memory not to surrender my desires, hope and life work.
“This shock means the world to me, my household and naturally all the disabled neighborhood,” he stated.
Britishpedia’s Profitable Individuals In Malaysia is a biographical encyclopaedia that highlights Malaysians who’ve contributed to nation-building and society on the whole. The e book will probably be distributed to all state libraries in Malaysia.
Tang exhibiting the web page the place he’s featured in Britishpedia’s ‘Profitable Individuals In Malaysia’ (third Version) 2021.
Following this acknowledgement was one other accolade for Tang and his social enterprise.
Earlier this month, PWD Good Farmability was chosen because the winner of the Nationwide Scroll of Honour for Human Settlements Award 2021 beneath the Housing and Native Authorities Ministry, held together with World Habitat Day. The theme of the award was “Accelerating City Motion For A Carbon-Free World”.
In July, Tang and Samantha Mok, PWD Good FarmAbility’s co-founder, have been additionally offered with the Inspiring Humanitarian Award by the Britain-based World Humanitarian Drive (WHD) organisation for “serving and galvanizing humanity with their good deeds”.
Relentless ardour
A automobile accident in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, left Tang paralysed from the waist down six years in the past.
Not one to dwell on his misfortune, he threw his focus and vitality into city farming, growing a mannequin to assist poor and marginalised communities get entry to recent, nutritious meals sustainably.
Final yr, he launched the Hope Field Challenge, which gives natural vegetable terrariums for adoption or sale in help of assorted beneficiaries.
The terrariums, which may self-regenerate for not less than three months and as much as a yr with out fertilisers, act as a type of recent meals financial institution conveniently positioned the place the recipients stay.
Tang (second from proper), with co-founder Samantha Mok (proper) presenting a Hope Field terrarium of natural greens to a needy household. Photograph: PWD Good FarmAbility
By the tip of this yr, they hope to deploy a complete of three,000 terrariums to the houses of the poor.
For his or her work, the social enterprise was recognised as one of many 10 winners of the Star Golden Hearts Award 2020, an annual award that celebrates Malaysian unsung heroes. PWD Good FarmAbility was additionally one of many two Gamuda Inspiration Award winners.
“As a paraplegic, I’m unable to perform with out the help of a skilled helper. My every day routine features a diaper change and self-catheterisation to launch urine from my bladder each 4 hours.
“As such, this may be disruptive when I’ve to attend conferences or be in a location which doesn’t have OKU-friendly bathrooms.
“The wheelchair has grow to be a core a part of my id after being a paraplegic. I perceive now why so many individuals, after being rendered OKU after an accident, refuse to come back out to society, as a result of any single expertise that reminds them of their (lack of) accessibility to amenities of their new physique will hamper their spirit and discourage them from feeling like part of society,” shared Tang, who additionally wants the assistance of suppositories each alternate day for his bowel actions.
“I endure from continual ache 24/7 however I refuse to depend on medicine as it should interrupt my ideas and speech. Therefore, I flip to my ardour in humanitarian and agricultural work to distract myself from the ache.
“I’ve been engaged on decentralising meals manufacturing as near individuals’s houses as doable, and on the identical time, be capable to strengthen my disabled friends with diet safety as we’re among the many most marginalised teams on the planet,” he stated.
“Our intention is to make nutritious meals obtainable to individuals throughout all financial backgrounds as we consider that nutritious meals shouldn’t be a luxurious, however a primary human proper.”
Tang additionally hopes to encourage different individuals with disabilities.
“To my disabled friends, don’t disguise away from society. Have interaction with society, don’t quit your hopes and desires due to bodily limitations.
“Look inside on your God-given present and abilities and serve to remodel lives. All the things we expertise, be it gladness or disappointment, pleasure or ache, well being or sickness, can all be a part of the journey in the direction of the complete realisation of our humanity.
“Actual success means the willingness to assist one another in making our brokenness right into a gateway to pleasure,” he stated.
