TL;DR – They came up with a unique Tauhuay Gula Melaka ice cream in celebration of National Day recently!
In this world, there are entrepreneurs and there are entrepreneurs with heart! The co-founder of the vegan ice cream café – Heartbreak Melts Ice Cream Cafe, Mr Goh Yong Wei is one example of entrepreneurs with heart! He has been a GrabFood delivery rider since September 2018, and is also the president of the National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA).
Yong Wei discovered ice-cream making when he was recovering at home from an accident, and the result is Heartbreak Melts Ice Cream Café at Ang Mo Kio. Making money isn’t the ultimate goal for Goh, despite his hectic schedule doing deliveries and running his business, he puts in much effort serving the community. How many of us are committed like that?
As the president of the NDCA, he seeks to look into support initiatives for fellow riders. He would understand the challenges best as a rider himself! These initiatives were really helpful during the pandemic years. Take for example, the NTUC-administered Self-Employed Persons Income Relief Fund (SIRS) – it really eased the burden of those who suffered a loss of income. Members of the NDCA who tested positive for Covid-19 also benefitted from a one-off payment through the Covid-19 Temporary Relief Scheme. Earlier this week, NTUC further announced that freelance and delivery drivers or riders here who are members of two associations stand to receive up to $300 in cash to cushion the impact of higher fuel prices on their livelihoods. The NTUC Freelancers and Self-Employed Unit Relief Scheme is expected to benefit freelance combi bus and limousine drivers who are members of the National Private Hire Vehicles Association, as well as delivery drivers and motorcycle riders who are members of the NDCA.
The delivery rider community needs a stronger voice.
Riders face many challenges: from not knowing where to park, difficulty finding merchants in big malls, longer than expected waiting time, conflicts with F&B operators, bad weather, to ensuring basic retirement adequacy are among some of them. The delivery rider community needs a stronger voice. Riders can chat with Yong Wei at the cafe if they need help with work-related issues. Psst, Yong Wei also offers free water to delivery riders who collect orders at his café!
“At the end of the day, I enjoy helping people and felt that the delivery community needed a stronger voice,” he says. Nice, afterall, we are the change we want to see in the world. If you are a food delivery rider or want to share your thoughts on how Singapore can help shape a better future for this group of workers, share your thoughts here!