“But how do you even know tomorrow is a better day, right? How do you know that tomorrow you won’t get bullied, or harassed or hit? You never know, so you have to believe in it. For years, I got through believing that tomorrow will be a better day. And that for every bad thing that happened to me, there was always a good side of it. That kept me going till today,” says Hendricks-Ng, adding that even through a cancer diagnosis in her adult years, this sense of optimism and resilience saw her through the darkest points of her life.

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As it turned out, she was right. The turning point came when she met her adopted parents, a humble couple who married late in life and who took her in as their own. Despite not being wealthy, the couple took good care of her and gave her the best education that they could afford. 

“My parents were not highly educated or well-to-do, but they were rich in heart,” Hendricks says fondly. “They protected me and raised me with only one rule, which is to be a good person. I am who I am today because they gave me a chance, and I am so grateful for that.”

Years later, Hendricks-Ng met her husband and business partner, Tim, while working on an app-related PR project for a client. Though she never envisioned becoming an entrepreneur and running her own business, that’s precisely what happened to her. Together the couple started Orangeleaf Consulting, a low-code service company that offers clients software development solutions through minimal hand-coding, enabling a faster delivery of applications compared to traditional coding.

“I always knew that I wanted to use technology to help children out there. But I always believe in doing things for the long term, not the short term,” says Hendricks-Ng. “As an orphan, I never felt like I had a voice. Even in my adopted family, I was the black sheep. When I grew up I promised myself I would do good and help others out there.” 

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“In Malaysia, there are very few database systems with accurate numbers and statistics on orphans. How many orphanages are out there? How many kids are out there on the streets who are smart and bright, and just need a chance to shine like I had? What if there are others out there like me who just need a platform to be empowered?” says Hendricks-Ng, who has spearheaded various impact-led coding projects alongside her Orangeleaf team at various hackathon events across Singapore, Japan and more, tackling issues from earthquake relief to volunteerism for humanitarian causes and homelessness. 

“When I was doing Mendix low-code, I realised how much it could do. I thought, why don't we use it to build a proper super app?” says Hendricks-Ng. “Initially, it was called OrphanGo. But after getting input from friends that this name was rather limiting, we changed it to Doremi, short for Donate, Receive and Mission. To us, doing charity should be as easy as Do-re-mi,” she adds about the free-use app that officially launched on August 8, 2024.

Doremi will include listings of orphanage homes, helping foster parents have greater access to adoption opportunities. The app also provides opportunities for members of the public, from individuals to corporations, to help sponsor orphaned children.

From sponsoring their education, healthcare and other essential needs monetarily to donating needed items in kind, Doremi’s features address multiple pain points, letting individuals and businesses better support orphanages and children’s homes in a faster and more direct way, while allowing foster families to post campaigns on the app to raise funds transparently for their newly adopted child’s education or other needs.  

Another feature of the Doremi app allows local F&B businesses to list down any excess food products or food sponsorship that they wish to donate, which orphanages can then arrange to pick up. 

Even companies looking to support underserved orphanages via CSR initiatives can use Doremi to learn more about the various orphanages and homes listed on the app, getting a real-time snapshot of that orphanage's needed essentials, rather than relying on outdated information on Google or the organisation’s websites.

“You can filter the various homes and charity organisations according to location. And you can read about the story behind these organisations and actually reach out to them directly,” explains Hendricks-Ng. “Because not every home allows members of the public to simply go in. Some have many restrictions, like the Agathians Shelter, which does not allow visitors or donors to bring food in—they prefer to serve meals only by their own cook. So, every home is very different, and we as the public need to understand what works for them.”

According to Hendricks-Ng, the app will soon include a space for job listings, allowing employers to hire orphans on a part-time or full-time basis. 

“My vision is to help the future generation using technology,” she says, highlighting the app’s ‘Swipe for Mentor’ feature, which allows anyone to list themselves as a mentor on the app to help orphaned young people with anything from career and education advise to questions about friendship, health and more. It also allows licensed mental health experts and therapists to offer their services bro-pono for app users.    

"When I was younger, I needed a friend to talk to. I loved talking with people older than me. They would give me very good advice that helped through my days,” says Hendricks-Ng. “That’s how I survived. If I struggled so much, who know what’s happening to the kids out there. If I can build a platform that is able to help them even just one step, it's better than zero.”

Read on for Hendricks-Ng’ advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, her thoughts on balancing purpose and profit as a business, and her definition of change.   

You went through so much as a child. What do you think others can learn from your experiences? 

When I was young, I would always try to see the positivity in everything that happened. I always tell myself that I'm lucky to be on earth. I'm lucky to be in this family. I'm lucky to even have food to eat. I was always content that I was not outside on the street. So that kept me going. Imbalances and unhappiness happens when you try to compare yourself to others. Why does this kid have this? Why do my siblings have this or that? Don’t compare yourself. 

What advice would you give future entrepreneurs who want to make an impact too? 

I would advise people to do things with purpose. And do things with kindness. If everything is calculated in dollars and cents, you will never be able to move forward. In Chinese, we say that if money is bigger than you, you will never be enough, because every step of the way you're wondering how much money we earned today? Do we want to be successful and profitable? Yes, of course. But first we should get our mindset right. What’s your purpose and intention? When you have that very clear purpose, even it makes you wait for years, you will still do it. That fire won't shut down because you know your dream and what is your purpose to it. But if you just want to make money, there’s only so far you can go.

What’s an important trait for any entrepreneur today? 

Focus is essential. It is easy to get distracted, and without a strong foundation, maintaining focus in life can be challenging. ⁠I am grateful for my ability to stay focused and organised my life—this has certainly helped me to get through tough times ⁠It is especially prevalent in today’s world, with the constant presence of social media. It is much harder for this generation to focus and it is easy to become sidetracked.

How do you define positive change? 

We talk a lot about social media keyboard warriors. Why can’t we use technology to create more happy and positive spaces, where people are welcome to seek help? Why not create a space where people have the freedom to feel vulnerable at their own pace? That, to me, is something more meaningful. One of my biggest dreams is to use my story and technology to help others.

Front & Female Changemakers celebrates the extraordinary journeys of inspiring women who have emerged as powerful changemakers in a range of fields, offering a glimpse into their lives and showcasing their courage, vision and relentless pursuit of change and progress. From social entrepreneurs and business leaders to educators, artists, activists and scientists, Front & Female changemakers exemplify the ability to challenge the status quo and demonstrate the power of women to effect change.

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