From Darkness To Light

Two South Africans – a former Singapore expat and a current one – are collaborating on a great cause in their home country.

After finishing a stint in Singapore in 2012, Amanda Seccombe has gone on to launch a non-profit called the Eyes2Eyes Foundation, which aims to help people with treatable blindness in South Africa. Amanda was inspired to start the organisation after her own personal experience – and ongoing journey – with eye disease.

Artist SUE GRAY still lives in Singapore; she met Amanda here, and the two kept in touch in the years that followed. When Sue heard about Amanda’s challenges and the launch of Eyes2Eyes, she sought a way to get involved. She’s now selling fine art prints from her “Uprooted” series of paintings, and donating 100 percent of the proceeds to the foundation.

Amanda's Story

Tell us a bit about yourself and your time in Singapore.

I grew up on a farm in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, and ended up living in Cape Town most of my life. For years, I worked in marketing in the financial services industry, but eventually took a leap of faith into my great love of textiles and clothing, just before moving to Asia. Hong Kong was the first stop, but it was in Singapore that I started the brand White Ginger. I loved my time in Singapore, with frequent trips to Vietnam and Indonesia to source textiles and new designs. The expat community was great fun and leaving was bittersweet.

What did you do when you returned home?