Thursday, November 29, 2012

Do homes have the right to demand?

I met a donor a few days ago, who was running fundraisers for the first time.  One of her plans is to buy school shoes for underprivileged children, so they have brand new shoes when they head back to school in 2013.  That's a great idea,  I thought. Donating items to fit the needs of these children that need our support. This helps shed the notion that homes, orphanages, senior citizen's residences and animal shelters are suitable places for dumping our used items, i.e damaged or dirty items.  These communities need support, not pity and not to be treated as undeserving of clean, usable and new items.



We talked a bit more and she raised an issue. Do homes have the right to demand?  She had  encountered one such institution who made specific demands, or maybe requests for many, many items, with specifications to install, set up and construct the contributions at the shelter. Can home administrators ask for unlimited supply? If donors are uncomfortable with these requests, should they speak up?

Where do you draw the line?


Thursday, November 22, 2012

Rumbling with Jumble Station

Working in the social sector is tough.  From making sure you have enough money to cover your monthly costs, to making sure the children you care for have good and nutritious food and not forgetting that abandoned parents need the same attention and care as well.

But, amidst all this, it is inspiring to see that social workers and volunteers keep their smiles when they plough through their daily routines.  I've had the pleasure of meeting so many in the past years and plan to share their stories over time in this blog.

Yesterday, I finally met the folks (or one of the many wonderful people) behind Jumble Station - Mary Anne Tan, a great speaker with a bubbly personality.  Humbly I say, they love what we do and I personally love what they do.  Jumble Station carry out remarkable initiatives to help single parents from all communities become financially independent.

Their latest venture is to hold a photography course for youngsters, and their looking out for cameras.  So if you have a spare or pre-loved camera, share them with Jumble Station. Here's their callout: (sorry Mary Anne, I've "borrowed" this image. :) )



If you don't have a camera, but other pre-loved items like spectacles, books, electrical appliances, do share them with Jumble Station, they collect these items for sale in flea markets to raise funds for their cause.

You can learn more about them on their blog, Rumble on Jumble (Station).


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Helping yourself to help others

One of the common queries we receive at Hati.my is recommendations of orphanages or welfare homes to help.  We've started a category, called "Recommended", listing down organisations  orphanages and shelters that the past and present Hati team notes as, "most in need of help".  Yes, we are helping all organisations listed in our directory (and some not), but I personally like this section because it brings attention to communities that are often "forgotten" because they are not in the urban areas or not convenient to get to.

From our conversations with home administrators and volunteers, homes that are in urban areas like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor and Selangor, tend to receive a little more attention that their rural cousins.  Some times we receive emails appealing for funds from the public from shelters in Kulim, outside Ipoh and Malacca.  I wish we could find out about the others who do not have access to internet.

If you're keen to learn more about the Recommended category, check it out here:


So if you're a first time volunteer looking to help out, donate some cash or goods or keen to visit orphanages, here are some questions you can ask yourself, to help you make your selection. It is a bit like signing up to a gym membership, as you'll find the questions are not very different from those guiding you visiting the gym.:)

1.  Is the home near where you live, is it convenient to get to?
2.  Do you like helping, children, senior citizens, animals or disabled communities, or do you feel strongly about indigenous communities' affairs and want to do something about it?
3.  What do you want to do - give cash or groceries or volunteer (teaching, cleaning, running projects, setting up computers)
4.  How often can you visit or would you prefer to make a one-off donation or visit?
5.  Do you want to bring a friend? Sometimes visiting a home alone can be daunting, so perhaps visiting with a friend will make it easier, you'll make new friends too!




Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Orphans are the new donors

I love this story from Indonesia.  Often, we read about appeals to help orphans, making them the recipients of gifts, donations and service, and usually it stops there.  This inspiring story from Yayasan Prima Unggul tells us how orphans are giving back to society, as a way to show their gratitude.  In their own words, here: (My favourite quotes in red.:))

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Ani, 46, was raised in an orphanage, and now she is back, to send her own son there.

“I have no choice,” Ani explained, “My husband passed away and I simply can’t afford to provide for my son, much less his education.”
Situations like this are not uncommon in Indonesia, where 21 million people still live below the poverty line. Martinua Gea, 43, however, believes that there is a solution. In fact, he intends to transform 10,000 orphans into entrepreneurs.
“Traditional orphanages are sustaining a vicious poverty cycle where generations of children are raised by orphanages. We need to end this poverty cycle and stop marketing pity and poverty. We need to focus on the future and we can do this through quality education,” said Gea.
He founded Yayasan Prima Unggul (YPU), a non-profit entrepreneurship high school for orphans in February 2011. With firsthand experience growing up in an orphanage, Martin explained that an orphan’s mindset often inhibits them from success and one of YPU’s aim is thus to empower orphans.
“Everything we have, we received from others,” Gea explained, “We were dependent on others’ goodwill and always saw ourselves as powerless. We didn’t know we had it in us to do something big.”



YPU students undergo an entrepreneurship based practical education that equips them not only for success in their own lives, but also gives them a chance to contribute to society. Students run several small business units within the school, and the profits contribute to about 20% of the total operational cost to run the school and care for the students’ daily needs.
“YPU made me more independent and self-confident. I picked up many new skills by apprenticing at different companies,” YPU student, Andhika Kristian, 15, said, “I feel that I can take my skills back to my hometown and start a business after I graduate.”
Students also contribute to society by holding low-cost Mathematics and Sciences courses for elementary school children in the neighbourhood.


“I’m really happy to be guiding these students,” 16 years old Maria Densiana said, “My leadership and training skills are also improving.”
While the organisation is still highly reliant on donations, Gea hopes that in five years’ time, the school can depend on itself and spread the self-sustainable model throughout Indonesia.
“If you think orphans have nothing to give, think again. Our orphans are determined to inspire and give to society. They’re the new donors.” 

YPU urgently need funds to sustain its operations. If you wish to donate, you can do so via bank transfer. Details can be found in www.primaunggul.org/donate or touch base with Belda Kosasih at  +62 081310 358201 or email info@primaunggul.org

Sunday, November 18, 2012

TLC for animals

At Hati.my, we often receive requests to adopt and care for animals.  Owners who migrate may not be able to take their loved pets with them while some other requests involve suggestions for Hati to 'rescue' abandoned animals or ones that may be living in abusive conditions.

As a pet lover myself, I would love to adopt and care for these animals, but unfortunately Hati does not have the facilities or resources to do so. Often, we advise owners to give them up to other pet loving friends, or an animal shelter.  The latter option may not be the most suitable as shelters are run on public donations, and may be overcrowded.  I've spoken to other animal shelter volunteers who sometimes share that it is better to leave street cats alone rather than to gather them and lock them up in a shelter. Street cats appear to be more resilient and independent.  It is important though to have them neutered, so if volunteers can spend some energy to get this done, it will help in controlling the street cat population in the city.

It's not that simple with dogs, I feel reluctant to recommend that dogs be given up in shelters as they require different attention.  All I can say is that, if there is no choice but to give up your pet, try persuading other animal loving friends, neighbours and families if they can care for your animal.