THE MAHJONG TEACHER WHO IS CREATING A CULTURAL EXCHANGE

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- VANESSA TAI

WHO: Sabrina Tan

HIGHEST EDUCATION: Masters in Educational Leadership, University of Jyvaskyla, Finland

JOB TITLE & INDUSTRY: Founder of Mahjonglah, yoga instructor, and reiki practitioner

WORK EXPERIENCE: 10 to 11 years

SALARY: $88 for a 2.5 hour session

Most Singaporeans would think of the game of mahjong as an outlet to unwind with friends and family. For Sabrina Tan of Mahjonglah - a platform that organises mahjong lessons for both locals and tourists - it is also a bonding activity that bridges cultures and brings families closer together.

"I once had a Vietnamese-American participant who was moved to tears during a mahjong session," Sabrina shares.

"He expressed that he finally understood why his late grandmother had been so captivated by the game. Playing mahjong allowed him to relive cherished memories and feel a deep connection to his departed loved ones."

Mahjonglah, which had its first session in April 2019, operates on multiple fronts. It offers cultural experiences hosted in Sabrina's family home - which was then a 4-room HDB flat in Yishun - through Airbnb Experiences, or via tie-ups with establishments such as Capella Singapore and 1880 Singapore. Mahjonglah also works with companies to organise corporate team building activities.

While business is advancing at a steady pace now, the advent of Covid-19 brought about major setbacks, with a sharp decline in tourist numbers. However, Sabrina quickly adapted by targeting foreign residents in Singapore who were seeking engaging activities, and overcame the pandemic restrictions by finding innovative solutions for table set-ups and utilising online platforms for theory sessions.