In a remarkable act of generosity, Singaporean lecturer Frankie Yee, 56, sold his retirement home to raise $150,000 to finance the university educati
In a remarkable act of generosity, Singaporean lecturer Frankie Yee, 56, sold his retirement home to raise $150,000 to finance the university education of six international students from Uzbekistan.
Yee first encountered the students in 2022 while teaching at a private university in Singapore. He discovered that they came from impoverished backgrounds and were studying in Singapore on a scholarship, yet still needed to cover 20 percent of their tuition fees. To make ends meet, the students worked long hours—10 hours daily—in restaurants and hotels.
When the students expressed their desire to study in Australia instead of Singapore, Yee decided to take a significant risk. He sold his retirement property in Genting, Malaysia, to gather the funds necessary for their tuition. While the amount raised is only sufficient to cover their first semester, Yee believes the students plan to work part-time while studying to support the rest of their education.
Currently, two students have commenced their studies at the University of Sydney, while the remaining four are awaiting admission to the University of Wollongong. In a podcast interview with Mave Mason, Yee shared that he was inspired by the students’ dedication to their education despite the obstacles they faced. He viewed his support as offering them a “fighting chance in life” to escape the cycle of poverty, benefiting not only them but also their future families.
When asked if he had any regrets about his decision, Yee emphatically stated, “I have no regrets at all.” He added, “Even though my bank account is almost down to nothing, the thought of these six boys having a better future makes it all worthwhile.”
The students have assured Yee that they intend to repay his kindness one day and even expressed hopes of buying back the Genting house for him in the future. However, Yee remains focused on their success rather than expecting repayment. “My only hope is that the six of them can become successful,” he said.
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