Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Food and fun fair for Praise Emmanuel Children's Home

Praise Emmanuel Children's Home (PECH) is calling for volunteers and sponsors to their Food and Fun Fair:

Details:
Venue: MBPJ Hall/MPPJ Hall, SS3/14, Petaling Jaya (near Bestari restaurant)
Time: 10am - 3pm
Date: Oct 23,2010 (Saturday)

The fair will comprise of 12 food and games stall, PECH is keen to have volunteers help with cleaning, logistics and manning the booths.

PECH is also interested in getting sponsorship for the stalls, at RM500 each. If you are keen to prepare food or games for this fair to help PECH, please get in touch with Mr. Christopher (details below).

All proceeds from the funds will go to PECH - consist of 3 shelters for 36 boys and girls in Petaling Jaya and Ipoh.

PECH also urgently needs school uniforms to prepare for the school year ahead, if you're interested in donating, please get in touch with Mr. Christopher.


Contact:
Christopher Michael
Manager
012 630 3672
03-5630 1398/56301411
pech@praise-emmanuel.com
www.praise-emmanuel.com

We hope you will be able to volunteer at this event!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Help Hospis Malaysia

Hospis Malaysia is calling out for public support. If you have good condition used items, please donate it to us for our upcoming jumble sale. Send your items to Hospis Malaysia in Taman Sri Bahtera, Cheras. Our working hour is from 8 am – 5 pm. Call us at 03 91333936 or log on to www.hospismalaysia.org for further information.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Quit the jargon

Back from Brussels in stormy and warm Kuala Lumpur.

A big thank you to our hosts and friends in Brussels and from all around the world. Good to have met new faces and made reconnections.

My take on Millennium Development Goals - quit the jargon.

As a journalist, and more of a communicator, we're used to stripping down rhetoric messages for the "layman", not to assume our readers or viewers are less educated, but to keep it simple, so the message is clear and understood.

No criticism at agencies that do good work towards the achieving the MDGs - just to keep it straightforward and ensure that we are on the same page.

My point is that good work by communities, agencies and individuals get drowned in jargon and terminology used by politicians, policymakers and sometimes ourselves.

For me, a place to start? Avoid big words to tell stories with big meanings.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Urgent funds for Sunshine Cottage, Kedah

Hati.org.my has just received an URGENT appeal from Sunshine Cottage, Kedah for funds. The home says it is facing financial issues since the start of the year, having difficulty in raising enough to cover monthly expenses.

Expenses provide care for 63 occupants (disabled, children,senior citizens)
The funds are for rental, utilities, transport and school expeneses and to caregivers and volunteers.

Sunshine Cottage depends mainly on monthly pledges - they want to raise it from current 10 pledgers to up to 100.
The home is also hoping for a sponsor to ensure a consistent stream of finances just to cover the basics.

Only one church is donating RM150-250 bimonthly and the current 10 pledgers offer RM1,500 per monthly.

If you think you can help them, please send your donations to Mr Shan.
And for corporations - this is a home to consider for your projects.

Payments by cheque must be payable to SUNSHINE COTTAGE.
24 and 23, Lorong Sekolah convent, Bukit Awi, 09000 Kulim, Kedah, Malaysia
+604-4931033
+604-4931033
Contact: Mr Shan

Pictures here and here.

Friday, March 5, 2010

The Idler

There are many ideas to be sought, shared.. all aimed at achieve a anxiety-free life.

Check him out

The Idler

Praise Emmanuel Children's Home

I'd link this, but news pages expire after a while.

Courtesy The Star, Malaysia

Wednesday February 10, 2010
PECH requires RM16,000 a month to maintain its three homes
By ANN MARIE CHANDY

metro@thestar.com.my

THERE are 24 children living in the Praise Emmanuel Children’s Home (PECH) in Petaling Jaya. and every one of them has a sad story — some were abandoned and some are from violent and abusive families, while others were neglected by their drug addict parents.

Yet, when you first meet these little ones, you would never think they come with such shocking emotional baggage. They appear happy. They are friendly, almost confident by nature, and very appreciative of the blessings that come their way.

There 15 boys and nine girls at the home.

The home was set up in 2004, and has been continuously lending support to underprivileged children (and sometimes their families), thanks to the donors.
Pursuing their education: The girls at the home studying and doing their homework.

PECH’s commitment to the children includes providing a shelter and homely environment for abused, abandoned, neglected and orphaned children; creating a foundation for a good education; providing counselling and encouragement to the emotionally hurt children; reconciling children with parents wherever possible, and cultivating strong moral values in these children..

While being grateful for all the support received thus far, PECH manager of children’s affairs and public relations Christopher Michael, is still wary of the year ahead and how the home will find enough resources to uphold the home’s commitment to these children.

Aged between five and 17 years, all the children go to school. Getting books, uniforms and school shoes alone is a logistical nightmare — anyone with children of their own will easily relate to this dilemma.

It does not help that PECH has a staff of only six, which includes Michael and a driver who has to ferry the children to and from nearby schools, including SMK Assunta, SRJKT Vivekananda, SK Seri Bintang, SJKC Chen Moh and Madeleine Kindergarten.

An immediate need of the home is a new van. The existing one is 18 years old and breaks down almost every week.

“It is so distressing each time I receive a call from the driver because I am sure that the van has broken down again,” Michael said, adding that he has already received enough money to place a deposit on a new van, but has to be able to cover loan payments before PECH can commit to the purchase.

The home also needs to maintain a budget of RM16,000 a month to maintain its three homes — two in Petaling Jaya (one for girls, and the other for boys) as well as one in Ipoh. The budget includes provisions and medication for the children, basic household items, petrol, electricity and water as well as rent and salaries for the staff.

Michael hopes to be able to set up an office in one of the existing homes to ease administrative work.

He is hoping to get some office equipment for this purpose, such as a computer, fax machine, steel cabinets and racks.

The children all need tutoring as well, but Michael says there have been numerous volunteers who have helped in the past and continue to do so.

He laments the fact it is difficult to get donations from corporations that prefer to help only if they obtain tax relief.

Michael also has to deal with a lot of red tape when it comes to education aid and the problems the children have at school because their parental details are so sketchy.

“It is difficult for our children to get aid in school because we are not able to provide details like their father’s monthly income — many of these children have been abandoned or their parents hardly come to visit them, so there is little we can do to provide these details.”

Well-wishers who would like to contribute in cash or kind, can call Michael at 012-630 3672. PECH is located at No. 7, Jalan 6/6, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Hati.org.my and Ruumz.com


More to come..

For now. Check out



Ruumzcauses

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Outside the central area

I've just picked a handful of homes to highlight here, homes are on continuously tough journey to raise funds and maintain the operations, regardless of their sizes.

These homes are some that have responded to HATI.org.my, highlighting latest information on the homes' needs and status of their ongoing projects. Important to note here that I'm not affiliated to these organisations in any way, only as a HATI volunteer.

Check them out
Rumah Amal Cahaya Tengku Ampuan Rahimah
Rumah Victory
Bethany Home
Shelter Home for Children

Rumah Jaireh
Dr Lucy Campos/ Mr Xavier Maniam
Call or email at
ruthlc@streamyx.com
+6016-2033295/+6012-2160145

Stepping Stones Living Centre
Pastor Johnson +6016-3858161
Call or email at
j_rajahser@hotmail.com
+6016-3858161

Compassion Home
Roy Tan,George & Teresita; Jasmine Woon-Ooi
compassion_home@yahoo.com
P:+603-5637 9366; +6012-661 0650; +6012-291 9147; +6012-239 0636

Bridges EIP Centre for Children with Learning Disabilities
Dolly Tan
bridgeseip@hotmail.com
P: +603-77222473; +6012-6476491

Ipoh Christian Centre (Agape Family)
Ps Micah M.K.Lim
agapefly@tm.net.my
P:+6012-5184254

Shan Children's Home
Saras Pillay / Gobi
schome_07@yahoo.com
P: +604-3973593/ +6019-4714917

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Volunteerism

Volunteerism is a big word. Five (or four?) syllables, it is a mouthful and is demanding on time and energy.

I'm no authority on volunteerism, but I can only share that it comes with frustration, physical and mental challenges, but is very very fulfilling. The act of giving without expectations, serving without rewards, is something I personally am learning.

I want to share this from the World Volunteer Web(site), a UN-backed organisation, which delves into the simplicities and depth of volunteerism.

Go to How do I volunteer?

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Field visits

After a hiatus, I decided to revisit children's homes, hoping bridge any gaps through HATI.org. my or within my network of friends..

Tina, our wonderful hairstylist, offered her services to cut children's hairs at Praise Emmanuel Children's Home

My second visit was to Agathian's Shelter to find the shelter in midst of expansion and needing up to RM40,000 for simple renovations.

Everyday is a constant battle for these homes.

Self awareness

So much to do, so little time.

I'd thought I'd use blogs to continue to convey messages, but this time a different sort of message.

Messages of sharing, caring and being aware of living within large communities, I try in my little way to promote volunteerism, philanthropy and other acts of kindness.

Check this out for starters HATI.org.my