Making a difference

The theme for Shell Downstream IT Away Day this year is Giving Back To The Community, and this is done via three Good Deeds with the Kapar community. One of the Good Deed was done last Sat, 24 July, whereby a team of 31 Shell staff brought excitement, joy and laughter to 102 underprivileged children in SJKT Ladang Bt Cheraka. The children received school essentials like shoes, socks, track pants and t-shirts, pencil case set and goodie bags of tidbits and packet drinks. The school teachers and staff organized a Telematch for Shell staff and students, which brought back fond memories of school days for the Shell staff. There were lots of prizes for the students for the telematch games. A&W lunch boxes and root beer drinks were handed out for lunch. But the "thing" that caused the biggest riot (and loudest cheering) was the appearance of the A&W mascot. The children was ECSTATIC ... they have NEVER eaten A&W food/drinks in their entire life, let alone have the chance to play and mingle with the mascot. It really made their day ... and apart from having fun, I am sure the Shell staff felt REALLY REALLY GOOD after spending their entire Saturday morning with the children. And of course, as the project leader for this event, I was overjoyed ... the event was a HUGE SUCCESS and everyone had a GOOD TIME!!! Thank you Shell, for your generous sponsorship of this event. ...

The GAB HR dept chose to refurbish our little library at the CNC as an activity for their community day program. The team of 8 came to the centre last Friday (23 July), with shelves, books, rugs, curtains, cushions, kiddie table and stools, posters, radio, and other knick knacks to do up the library. They spent about 3 hours and the outcome was fantastic. The library is warm and cosy, and definitely more conducive for our Kapar kids to read and browse the books. Thank you GAB for this kind and generous gesture! Elizabeth, our Librarian and Kim Cute little shelves with new books (including Enid Blytons ... how I used to devour those books during my younger days) A table and stools for the little ones ... And our new curtains ...

Lions/Ti-Ratana Mobile Clinic conducted a medical camp for the residents of Sg Kapar Indah and its surrounding area on Sunday, 4th July 2010. The Headmaster of SJKT Ladang Vallambrosa was kind enough to lend us his school premises to run the medical camp. Volunteer doctors, nurses, pharmacists and allied medical personnel, as well as the organisers, members of Apex club and Leo Club arrived as early as 8am to set up the camp. There were 9 stations - Dental, Women's clinic, Children's clinic, Pharmacy, Audio check, Glucose check, BP check, BMI check, and General medical consultation. It was a slow start, as residents had to make their way to the medical camp site on foot, and to make it worst, it rained cats and dogs soon after we started the clinic. Fortunately, the rain subsided by mid-morning and the crowd came in bigger numbers. In total, 248 residents participated, comprising 92 adult females, 38 adult males and 118 children. This was very close to our target of 250. We provided cream buns and cream crackers (sponsored by Julie's) and nescafe (sponsored by Nestle) for breakfast and snacks. But the BEST meal for the day was of course the lunch served by volunteers from the Ti-Ratana Meals on Wheels. Slightly more than a week after the medical camp, the organizer called with the list of cases for follow-up. A total of 32 residents required follow-up check-ups in Klang GH and Kapar Clinic. The organizer ...

Most used to stay at home, idling their time away and some loiter around the housing estates and Kapar town. However, during the recent 2 weeks June school holidays, Friends of Kapar provided the children with a more attractive and fun option, i.e. spending their school holidays at the CNC. We provided transportation for the children to get to the CNC everyday, where they spent 6 hours revising their school work, reading library books, watching TV, playing games/toys or just socialising with the other children. We also provided them with lunch and refreshments. We had some of the older children to mind and supervise the younger ones. These activities are definitely more beneficial and enjoyable, and the attendance at the CNC during the school holidays was very encouraging, as can be seen from these pictures. Even the bus ride was FUN! Our books library is still work-in-progress, but the children who are so deprived at home are making full use of it. Engrossed in watching Snow White ... Having fun with used toys, which they rarely get at home ... Interacting with each other and making friends... And a rare treat to KFC for some of the children who has helped us during our monthly feeding, preparation for the CNC launch carnival and other tasks assigned by Mageson. If a picture can paint a thousand words, these pictures truly depict Sonia's and Roshan's delight with the ice-cream sundae and the chicken respectively. Yup, the CNC will definitely open ...

The day started with a light shower in the morning, which then paved the way for a very hot day!!! Despite the heat, the CNC launch was a great success ... thanks to the support of our donors/sponsors, the local volunteers, the Kapar Kidz, but most of all, our Chief Organiser, Mageson and his dedicated helpers. The moment they arrived, the children were delighted when they each received a bright orange Friends of Kapar tees (design, materials and printing - all sponsored). This was followed by lunch which comprised of sausages, nuggets, vadai, and orange juice, which they feasted on with gusto! After lunch, the volunteers and tutors helped the children get ready for their performances for the opening. The opening of the CNC was officiated by the lighting of an oil lamp by Mageson representing the Kapar community, Karthik representing the Kapar Kidz, Shir Leen representing the donors & sponsors, and Ainie and Kim representing Friends of Kapar. Then it was time for the Kapar Kidz to showcase their talents ... there were several dance performances, a drama sketch, fashion show and a choir of the 1Malaysia song as the finale (more of this and pictures will be in a separate post). After being entertained by the Kapar Kidz, our invited guests were shown around the CNC and treated to some local delights - putu mayam (or spring hoppers), nasi lemak, curry puffs, vadai, and green tea. The launch carnival continued with a clown show, games ...