BUTTERWORTH: From a cramped room with just five children, the Seberang Jaya Community Rehabilitation Centre (PPDK) has grown into a facility serving 41 persons with disabilities.
However, the centre has continued to grapple with limited funding and facilities.
Centre chairman Datuk Alim Araby Mohd Salih said the centre currently cares for participants aged between five and 35 under the guidance of one supervisor and seven teachers.
He said the government’s assistance of RM300 monthly for each trainer and RM50 monthly fee from each participant are insufficient to meet operating expenses.
“The assistance helps to cover some of our operating costs but we still rely heavily on public donations. We also generate a little income by renting out our hall.”
“Our hall still does not have enough air-conditioners. We have appealed to donors many times but have yet to receive support.
“Every day we use portable blowers to improve ventilation because the weather is humid.
“We hope someone will step forward to help,” Alim said.
The centre began operating from Rukun Tetangga premises in 2001 before moving into its own building in Seberang Jaya in 2009 to provide rehabilitation and intervention for all categories of persons with disabilities, particularly children and adolescents, with an approach embedded in the local community.
To strengthen safety at all 24 PPDKs in Penang, Petron service station dealers across the state collectively contributed more than RM62,400 to install 96 closed-circuit cameras complete with digital video recorders, system configuration and a one-year warranty.
The contribution, under Petron’s 360° Kita Bersama CSR initiative, also included repainting works, minor repairs and cleaning at the Seberang Jaya centre.
