THE season of giving is around the corner and as we look forward to Christmas and the New Year, let us spare a thought for the plight of underprivileged children living in welfare homes and orphanages.
The homes, which offer shelter to these children, depend on public support to pay rental, utility bills, food, toiletries and medication.
The other matter of concern is the education of children living there.
School-going children require assistance to get school uniforms, shoes, exercise books, stationery and work books.
Sadly, many of the homes have been finding it difficult to get donations, both in cash and kind over the last few months.
Following the “Do Good. Grant A Wish” project for Deepavali last month, StarMetro recently kicked off its Christmas initiative with the less fortune in mind.
The three homes we have decided to assist in the Yuletide season are Rumah SVP Klang, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Yesuvin Mahligai, Kajang and Destiny Starting Point 1, Klang.
Rumah SVP Klang
This home which has been around for 20 years, houses abandoned, underprivileged and children of single parents.
Located in Taman Melawis, Klang, it is managed by the National Society of St Vincent de Paul (Conference of our Lady of Lourdes, Klang) and cares for boys until the age of 12.
The boys are later sent to another home in Petaling Jaya.
Rumah SVP Klang president V.K. Robert said the home’s primary aim is to provide a conducive environment for the boys to readjust to a normal life.
The caregivers provide love and care to help them build a firm foundation of primary education.
The boys, he said come from very poor and broken families.
Over the last few months, the home has been struggling to cope with operational costs.
“We need about RM7,000 to cover monthly expenses but lately, we have only been getting over RM2,000 from donors and well-wishers,” said Robert adding that the home also has its own fundraising programmes such as selling food items at the church on weekends.
The home has three rooms and houses 11 boys, aged between four and 12 years old. It can house a maximum of 15 children.
Robert said the home was in need of provisions and household products such as rice, milk, Milo, canned food, cooking oil, bath soap, toothpaste and shampoo.
“The main setback is that our freezer to stock up on fish, chicken, vegetables and other perishable items broke down two months ago.
“We engaged a technician after it broke down and were informed that it would cost RM1,500 to repair the freezer and we do not have the money,” said Robert, adding that they could not keep perishable food items because of this.
The ceiling of the office which is located in a container, is damaged resulting in water seeping in whenever it rains.
The home also requires four bed frames (two double-decker units) and two cupboards as the ones it has now are damaged.
One bathroom used by the boys is without a door, has no water heater and the toilet’s flush function is not working.
“It has been raining a lot recently and the boys are not keen to bathe in the morning before going to school as it is cold.
“We also need a bigger rice cooker because the one we have now is small. We need to cook rice twice for each meal and it will be good if we can get a bigger rice cooker.
“We are also grateful if a few volunteer teachers can help tutor the boys because their grades are not too good.
“The boys need to pass their examinations and later get jobs to support themselves and their families who are still living in hardship and poverty,” added Robert.
The home can also do with a fresh coat of paint and is also looking for donors to provide stationery, schoolbags, school shoes and exercise books as the new school term starts in less than two months.
Pertubuhan Kebajikan Yesuvin Mahligai Selangor
This shelter home is registered with the Welfare Department and was formed in 2004 by a husband-and- wife team with seven children.
The home in Taman Maju, Kajang is rented and provides shelter for 20 underprivileged children between the ages of four and 18 years old.
Four of the children have mental and physical disabilities.
Following StarMetro’s visit, we found that the home is in need of assistance to upgrade facilities for the children.
Its founder M. Rajan said the children here, were marginalised and some were without documents.
“Some of the children’s fathers are serving time in prison. Some have been abused, others abandoned by their family and some have parents who are unable to care for them due to mental illness or poverty,” he said.
Rajan said it has been challenging to raise funds as fewer corporate companies had come forward to donate items.
“In the past, sponsors used to come by and take the children out for festive shopping.
“They will get at least one set of new clothes for Deepavali and Christmas.
“This year, the children did not get any new clothes for Deepavali.
“I hope an organisation will buy them some new clothes for Christmas,” he said.
The shelter home is a safe haven for the children but its facilities are old and disintegrating.
We noticed the double-decker bed frames and mattresses in poor condition.
The children would also like new mattresses, pillows, blankets, bed frames, bed sheets and proper cupboards to keep their clothes.
The couch and TV rack are broken.
Due to heavy usage, the bathroom at the home needs an upgrade with a shower head and new doors fitted.
The home also needs to be painted and requires several stand fans to keep the rooms from being too warm.
Rajan, a former journalist said his years of service as a pastor convinced him to set up the home with his wife’s help.
“We are doing our part for society by helping these children build a life.
“We started the home with just seven children but now there are 20 residents,” he said.
Some of the younger children fancy teddy bears, children’s books and toys.
Suria, 10, is academically-inclined and is doing well in his studies.
When asked his Christmas wish, Suria said he would like an Olaf stuffed toy from the movie Frozen or any white teddy bear.
Donations to the home are tax exempted (Tax Exemption Ref. No: LHDN. 01/35/42/51/179-6.6360)
Destiny Starting Point 1
As its name suggests, Destiny Starting Point 1 in Taman Radzi, Klang, is a place for youths of troubled homes to start anew and have a second shot at life.
Since its was founded 15 years ago, the home has expanded, opening up three separate homes for children, teenage boys and girls respectively.
A fourth home was created later as a shelter for the elderly, homeless, the disabled and bedridden.
Founder Rev Stephan Swamithasan said the youths and children they took in came from poor or broken families, where one parent may have been abusive or struggling with an alcohol or drug addiction.
He recognised the importance of giving troubled youths a good upbringing to help break the vicious cycle and prevent them from falling into alcohol and drug addiction.
The boys’ home houses 25 boys aged 13 and above, and they are cared for by some of the older boys who have chosen to stay on and volunteer their time to look after the younger ones.
The girls’ home also serves as a shelter for a few single mothers and their children.
“These youths usually do not do well in public schools, so we have also set up home schooling for them, so they can have a chance to make a better life for themselves,” said Stephan.
Naturally, the costs of running four welfare homes as well as a home school for youths and a community kindergarten for poor families in Klang is pretty high.
Stephan said the basic monthly expenses was RM35,000 a month and they just barely get by with the help of well-wishers who support them by covering the rental, bills and provisions.
“We do not run a home to make profits, we want lives to be changed.
“Once upon a time, I was on the roadside and somebody helped me out,” said Stephan on his motivation to keep the homes running.
Well-wishers have occasionally donated used electrical appliances and Stephan sometimes takes in broken furniture that have been thrown out and repairs them to be used at the home.
The most pressing need for now is a new washing machine, as the old one has broken down.
They are also looking for someone to sponsor a new signboard for the boys’ home as the older one was missing.
Over at the girls’ home, a new commercial freezer is needed to store vegetables and other perishable food items.
A new dining table and sofa set to replace the makeshift ones that are currently being used will help improve their living conditions.
Stephan said they welcomed donations of toiletries, cleaning materials and non-perishable foodstuff, including spices for cooking.
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