What began as an interest in colours and painting has grown into something far more meaningful for a 44-year-old special needs man, giving him a way to express himself while allowing others to see his creative talent.
The artwork of Woon Kok Wey, better known as Guowei, from Johor Baru Welfare Centre for Children with Disabilities (PKIIJB), will be featured on the cover of Mid-Autumn Festival gift boxes this year as part of the centre’s fundraising initiative.
PKIIJB chairman Lian Tuck Hock said Guowei, who has autism, had gradually developed more confidence through painting and found art to be an avenue for self-expression.
“When he first started painting, it was mainly an activity for him to explore colours and express himself.
“Over time, he became more comfortable with different colours, shapes and creative techniques and gradually developed his own way of expressing ideas through his artwork,” he said.
Lian said the centre first noticed Guowei’s interest in art during activities there, where he naturally gravitated towards colours and became increasingly engaged in painting.
“Art gives Guowei a way to communicate and express feelings that may sometimes be difficult for him to express through words.
“When he sees his artwork being appreciated by others, he becomes more confident and motivated.”
This year, the centre decided to give Guowei a larger platform by featuring his artwork on its Mid-Autumn Festival gift boxes.
Lian said the idea was to create a festive gift that was not only meaningful but also showcased the abilities of people with special needs.
“Instead of simply creating another gift box design, we wanted to give Guowei an opportunity to share his artwork with the community.
“His artwork represents more than just a beautiful design; it represents his ability, creativity and potential.”
Instead of asking Guowei to follow a specific theme, the centre gave him the freedom to express himself through colours, shapes and his own artistic style, making the artwork a genuine expression of his creativity.
The centre is targeting sales of 500 gift boxes this year, with each box priced at RM138 during the pre-order period, or RM238 for two to raise funds for their centre in Taman Iskandar.
The campaign will help support the 42 special needs individuals under the centre’s care, with proceeds going towards their daily necessities, education and training, therapy and medical needs.
Shipping and self-collection at the centre is now available.
Lian said proceeds from the campaign would help support the centre’s monthly operating expenses of about RM61,790, which also covered food, staff salaries, utilities, rental and other operational costs.
He said long-term care remained a significant commitment as every individual at the centre had different abilities and needs.
“As a non-profit organisation, we rely heavily on donations and community support to sustain our programmes and daily operations,” he said.
Beyond fundraising, Lian said the centre hoped Guowei’s artwork would encourage greater understanding of the abilities and potential of people with special needs.
He added that Guowei’s involvement was meaningful as seeing his artwork brought joy, while supporting fellow residents gave him a greater sense of purpose.
