For 180 years, The Straits Times has been telling The Singapore Story. From a single print folio to today’s omnichannel newsroom, we have kept our nation informed and connected, playing our part in building the Singapore of today.
Putting the spotlight on people and communities
To celebrate our 180th anniversary, we want to not only tell The Singapore Story, but also help Singaporeans tell theirs. We launched a special series, Your Singapore Story, calling for our readers to submit stories that define our home. And in the past few months, our readers poured out their stories — stories that The Straits Times will keep telling for generations to come.
They told us stories that celebrate their lives, memories, and dreams, inspiring tales of grit, determination, and reinvention, and the quiet moments in between, through every corner in the country.
Among these deeply moving submissions is the story of a father who refuses to set limits on his son’s potential, turning a personal challenge into a public story of inspiration.
This is the story of photographer Bob Lee and his son, Jun Le, who is 18 and has autism. Their journey has been one of immense dedication; Mr. Lee and his wife left their full-time media jobs to focus on Jun Le’s needs, navigating everything from rejection by schools to his wife's cancer diagnosis. Their breakthrough came by accident during the 2020 circuit breaker, when they discovered Jun Le’s unique gift for calligraphy as he copied an ancient Buddhist text.
They coined his distinctive style ‘Junlefont’ and launched a fundraising campaign for his art. His popular designs are now sold on bags, pouches, and hongbao envelopes, with the hope that this will provide Jun Le with a way to support himself after graduation. Their efforts have led to a major collaboration with Starbucks, bringing Jun Le’s art to the heart of Chinatown and sharing his creativity with a wider audience.
Mr. Lee’s story is a powerful example of what the "Your Singapore Story" campaign aims to capture. It embodies a spirit of resilience and proactive love, showing how a family’s challenge can be transformed into an opportunity that not only helps their son but also raises public awareness. As a photographer who often gives public talks, Mr. Lee uses these opportunities to speak about autism, asking, “if we as parents of children with autism don’t tell their stories, who will?”
This is the essence of The Straits Times’ mission: to provide the platform for these vital stories to be told.
We invite you to discover more of these inspiring narratives. Explore all the stories in this special microsite here.
Impact & Results
The series resonated deeply with audiences across the nation, as the stories captured the diverse experiences of Singaporeans. These powerful narratives achieved an impressive reach, demonstrating the power of authentic storytelling in connecting the community.
Thanks for your interest! Please leave your details below and we will get in touch with you soon.
Fields marked with * are mandatory.
