Before Taiwanese singer A*mei visited India recently as a World Vision ambassador, there were rumours that she would not shake hands with the locals there because she was afraid of falling ill. Apparently, she had heard that some parts of the country had poor sanitation.
Of course the rumour proved false.
She did more than shake hands with the locals. She hugged and played with children, sang to them and gave them sweets and tidbits.
But she was careful with them, since she had been sick just before the trip.
'I don't want to put them at risk by passing my germs around, especially since HIV-infected people's immune systems are weak. I do not want to be the cause of further health complications for them,' she said.
A*mei, 36, also visited several self-help and women groups, a school, three villages and the slums to better understand the crippling conditions the poor face on a daily basis.
'Hopefully, I can put whatever influence I have to good use,' she said. 'I hope I can move people to act on these problems as best as they can.'
She was in New Delhi last week from Monday to Thursday as part of this year's 30 Hour Famine event organised by World Vision, a Christian relief and development organisation.
The annual event, held on June 5 and 6 this year, sees almost a million people around the world participate in a 30-hour fast to raise funds and increase awareness about global poverty and injustice happening among the poor.
A*mei was in a group of about 15 people, including members of the media and World Vision workers and volunteers. She travelled with her manager and an assistant, but carried her own bag throughout the trip.
This is her second time as an ambassador for World Vision. Her first involvement with the charity was in 2005, when she visited Sudan.
How were the two trips different?
'Every trip is a learning experience for me,' she said. 'We all know about India and how it is overpopulated and full of problems. I am very happy and privileged to be here, and I just want to find out what more can be done.'
Tearing up, she recounted her meeting with an HIV-infected boy who was no older than 10, adding that she was most affected by the plight of young children.
'Children suffer the most. They cannot control their lives and their future, yet they are the happiest to be around. Their innocence and optimistic outlook towards life is something we all can learn from.'
She loved being with the children so much that she even played cricket with some of them at the school she visited.
The kids cheered her on even though she missed the ball the first few times she swung her bat. But she succeeded in striking the ball eventually.
'Seeing them laugh along with me was a powerful reminder that there's a mixture of both happiness and sadness in these places we visit,' she said.
'I've learnt that life is precious and I really hope that we can bring all this research back to come up with solutions to improve their living conditions.
'Too often we talk extensively about what we can do. We must act upon our thoughts and realise these plans.'
by Rebekah Lin / Diva Asia
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