The managing founder of social enterprise and cafe The Caffeine Experience says being sent to jail at age 44 was the jolt he needed to find his purpose. Now 53, he is focused on helping fellow ex-offenders find employment and restart their lives.
"During my time in prison, I reconnected with my faith and hit upon the idea of starting a social enterprise to help former offenders learn new skills and provide stable employment. I picked coffee because making coffee can be learnt quickly."
One can learn to make coffee in 1œ days and become a barista in six months, he notes. "Instead of cooking drugs, the ex-offenders on our staff now cook pasta, and roast and brew coffee."
He knows how easily one's life can be derailed. At 23, he started an interior design business which quickly became lucrative. However, it also led to a life of extravagance and partying.
His then girlfriend, who became his first wife, introduced him to party drugs and, over time, his drug habit escalated.
While his business was flourishing â at one point, he had a $1.8 million contract and 60 people working under him â his personal relationships were failing.
He married his first wife when he was 30, but the marriage lasted only a few months. His second marriage, to a Chinese national, in 2011 also broke down and the couple filed for divorce in 2016.
In 2013, his mother died and Mr Poh began a downward spiral. His second marriage was in trouble by then, and he indulged in substance abuse to escape from reality.
He neglected his business. Even as clients filed lawsuits against his company for unfulfilled contracts, his addiction worsened when his friends introduced him to methamphetamine.
ãã®èšäºã¯ The Straits Times ã® November 10, 2024 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ The Straits Times ã® November 10, 2024 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
Singer Karol G apologises for song said to sexualise minors
Colombian reggaeton star Karol G apologised on Nov 11 after her latest song, +57, was criticised for sexualising minors.
Mattel mistakenly lists porn site on packaging for Wicked dolls
All may be good in the Land of Oz, but the same cannot be said for the world of Mattel.
Singer G.E.M. to perform at National Stadium in March
Hong Kong singer G.E.M. is slated to hold a concert at the National Stadium on March 1, 2025.
Actress Megan Fox pregnant again after miscarriage
After a previous miscarriage, American actress Megan Fox is pregnant again. American rapper Machine Gun Kelly, whose real name is Colson Baker, is reportedly the father, according to US media.
Singer Yu Tian's son-in-law receives suspended jail sentence for scam involvement
Gary Chen, the son-in-law of famed Taiwanese singers Yu Tian and Li Ya-ping, has been given a suspended jail sentence for his involvement with a scam syndicate.
Irish pop band The Corrs to hold February concert
Irish pop quartet The Corrs will be back in Singapore for a concert at The Star Theatre on Feb 13, 2025.
A French veterinary psychiatrist puts cats on the couch in new book
Even dog people must admit that cats are having a moment.
Lisa shares her love of Singapore food
The Thai rapper-singer is the first member of Blackpink to hold a solo fan meet here
Gladiator gets sequel after two decades
After many delays, Gladiator II hits cinemas, and star Paul Mescal feels pressure to measure up to original
Moana follow-up may accelerate Disney's film studio comeback
Walt Disney Company's most streamed movie of all time has nothing to do with Star Wars, The Avengers, or the singing sisters of Frozen.