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History of Swami

Visit to the Ashram
Sometime in July 1981, a group of friends visited Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Ashram (monastery) called Prasanthi Nilayam (Abode of the Highest Peace), located at Puttaparthi, a very remote village in the state of Andhra
Pradesh, India.

First Interview with Sri Sathya
Sai Baba
The group of 29 people was thrilled to be called
in for an interview by Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
they were considered very fortunate by other devotees as there was no way one could fix an “appointment” to see Swami, as Sri Sathya Sai Baba was known.. Baba lovingly taught them that the highest spiritual practice was, “Love All, Serve All”; and that “Love had to be expressed as
selfless service with no expectations…”His key
advice was to expand one’s heart and to do
service without any expectation or recognition
for any reward or personal gain.

Baba encouraged the volunteer group to
engage in regular social work.

Service Activities at Nursing
Homes, Children’s Homes,
Hospitals and Others
The enthusiastic group immediately set out to
plan community services; The Sathya Sai Baba Centre (Everton) was registered as a society in order to formally facilitate the voluntary service activities.

Every Sunday and on public holidays, the group met to carry out service activities. For more than 7 years It was a most satisfying experience and strengthened their minds and spirits for the bigger service projects that were to unfold.

Purchase of a 20 Bed
Commercial Home
In May 1986, a 20-bed commercial Old Age
Home was advertised for sale through a local newspaper.

They Paid S$25,000 which from its 23 members by selflessly pooling together their savings.

The estimated renovation cost was about S$500,000.00 for two blocks to accommodate 100 elderly residents.
The Management Committee decided to meet compassionate Guru, Sri Sathya Sai Baba for His guidance, advice and blessing.

Second Visit to Sri Sathya Sai
Baba

Baba asked the group, “How are you planning
to raise funds? He said “Approach some rich and kind hearted businessmen and they will help

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba giving darshan

The First Home at 19 Kee Ann Road
It housed 20 elderly residents in 3 separate rooms.

Subsequently in October 1988, the Volunteer Management Group decided to register the nursing home with the Registry of Societies. The home was renamed as Sunshine Welfare Action Mission Home
which it is now known by its acronym “SWAMI
HOME”

HDB Letter to Vacate
Two years after the group began Home operations; they received a letter from HDB notifying that the site would be acquired for re-development and that they had to look for premises elsewhere.
Second Home – 52 Bah Tan Road
Some used and vacant schools in the vicinity
of Sembawang were offered to the group for
Relocation. Finally the old Canberra Primary School at 52 Bah Tan Road was selected.
Baba said, ”God will help you find. If you do
good work, God will always bless all of you.”

Why did the team consider Sri Sathya Sai Baba to be the “Founder”? His Universal Teachings were the bedrock on which their lives were run; and it was His inward guidance and inspiration that urged the group to work as one egoless devoted team for the welfare of society. To all of them, He was also their spiritual Guru and
inner motivator. Indeed, without His motivation,
the Home would not even have started.

Subsequently a business man donated a generous sum of S$250,000 to kick start the renovation.

A Dollar for a Dollar Donation
This donation drive during the year 1990 happened to coincide with the 25th Anniversary of Singapore.
the Government would match the amount, dollar for dollar, and the organization would get double the initial amount.
MRT Letter to Vacate
Before the team could raise further
funds to begin with the renovation of the 4
storey building, a letter was received from
MRT notifying them to vacate the premises
by end of 1995. The site was earmarked for
the proposed construction of the Sembawang
MRT station!
whole exercise of sourcing for funds, finding a
place and planning to run a home had to start
all over again from scratch.
Finally the third Home with constructed and completed in September 1997 at 5, Sembawang Walk is where SWAMI HOME now stands. The building design had to incorporate an “open concept” In addition, SWAMI HOME had to be nature based; with air, water, the earth and plants creating a space of beauty and peace, where elderly residents could spend their sunset years. The team was committed to enabling the elderly live comfortable and dignified lives during their remaining twilight years.
SUNSHINE BUILDING

ELDERLINK Dementia BUILDING now known as SUNSHINE In 2000, hardly 3 years since SWAMI HOME was built, the team successfully applied for an extension of an adjacent forested land to MOH through the help of the Minister from the constituency to build a Home for the elderly suffering from dementia. The 4 storey building was completed in 2004. Under this project, day-care elderly are provided daily care services including over weekends. .

GRACE BUILDING

The extension of Grace building was completed in early 2018 to cater for 50 bedded dementia residents with roof top Garden.

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