Hawker centers had been acknowledged by UNESCO as a cultural & heritage site.
It took MANY decades to achieve such accolades, by many, so many, hawkers & founding/forefathers to make it successful, that even today, is copied Worldwide, to provide low cost tasty foods under minimal conditions but with critical elements of hygiene & mgmt...It is NO easy task by all within such a team.
Many, many Singaporeans would have heard & even SEEN with their own perceptions of REALITY - hear, see, taste, touch & smell, of SUCCESSFUL hawkers, whom wore Rolex watches, drive continental cars & live in Condos or even landed properties, BUT they DO NOT REALISE the hardwork, the efforts, the biz acumen, etc NEEDED to make it successful....
Our govt had tried to help, thru many initiatives, such as the ROOT - good food - to teach even on media contests, to understand the concepts of creating good, tasty & healthy foods. Such is a priority.
However, there is MORE than just providing good food. It's about BIZ MGMT, Productivity, Marketing, Public Relations, careful use of technology & MORE, just like any other honest biz enterprise, & such may be lacking EVEN within our taxpayers funded help in Skills Upgrading Programs...
The Hawkers uplift program initiated by our Founding & support from Forefathers had succeeded & truly created a chance to earn an honest living for many, with most whom had little education or opportunities in life due to many different reasons, being able to live a better life, not just for themselves, but even sent their kids to colleges Worldwide to better their knowledge & opportunities.
It now lays within HDB/NEA whom manage our hawker centers, to develop initiatives to uplift the next generations, whom mostly would had at least GCE level education and ARE educated, but face hurdles in a changing World, to be successful, thru more related subjects in Skills Upgrading courses, to better manage & succeed in the Hawker industry, which will be necessary in this World of change for all - from the customer to the owner of such a stall. as prepared food will be a necessity in a busy & bustling World hurtling to progress & evolve.....
We, Singaporeans, like our courageous founding & forefathers whom had little but faced ENORMOUS hurdles in life, will not leave anyone behind.....so long as each of them would not give up but willing to accept change, which is a constant in life...