Volunteers with Spread Love Foundation preparing school supplies to be given away to needy families. — Photos: RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
Only 10 years old when her mother died, Megalah Subramaniam and her three younger siblings were left devastated.
Not long after, the grieving family was plunged into financial crisis when their father’s business went bankrupt.
Those challenging experiences fuelled Megalah, now 39, to help others facing difficulties.
She founded Spread Love Foundation, a non-profit focusing on access to education for underprivileged children.
Before the school term started this year, she, with help from some volunteers, distributed school supplies to 300 children from poor families in the Klang Valley.
Nur Syahada says she spends RM600 on school fees and exercise books for her three children.Those selected received essentials such as bags, stationery, exercise books, lunch boxes and toiletries.
“I worked with schools, teachers and community leaders to identify suitable recipients,” said Megalah, who hails from Puchong, Selangor.
“I know what it feels like to struggle to make ends meet, and I don’t want others to go through that.”
In addition to annual back-to-school programmes, Megalah said the foundation also organised free tuition classes and sports training.
“However, we face some challenges due to lack of both funds and volunteers to man our programmes,” she said.
Among recipients of the school supplies were 50 children from Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Rasau in Puchong.
Tok Batin (village chief) Baharuddin Bakar, 47, said the community had worked with the foundation on previous initiatives.
“We were very grateful when they approached us about the programme,” he said, while expressing hope for more assistance to be channelled to the villagers.
Among the other beneficiaries was Nur Syahada Azmi, 31, who said the aid lightened her financial burden.
“I spent RM600 on school fees and exercise books,” said the mother of three school-going children.
“The bill would have been more if not for this aid,” she added.
Meanwhile, Puchong MP Yeo Bee Yin asked community members to ensure their children did not miss school.
Yeo, who was guest of honour at the event, said she had received feedback from schools about poor attendance among Orang Asli children.
On a separate matter, the MP said parents with children under six years old could apply to receive free formula milk from her parliamentary office.
“This initiative aims to ensure recipients reach their developmental milestones,” she said.
