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. ...
Featured Posts: New look for CNC Library … thanks to GAB
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 ...
Featured Posts: Health checks for Kapar residents
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 ...
Featured Posts: A Different Kind of School Hols for the Kapar Kidz
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 ...
Featured Posts: Kapar Kidz had a Blast at CNC launch!
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 ...
My first visit … sad but hopeful that we can make a difference
On 18 July ‘09, I visited the poor in Kapar for the first time. It was definitely an eye-opener for me as I have never encountered such a state of living conditions before, especially the Kg Tap Settlement. Houses in this settlement are in such a dilapidated state. The residents, young and old are shabbily dressed, and most of the children run around bare-footed. Most of them also look under-nourished.
However, one thing that surprised me was that the children were not moping around. On the contrary, there were running around, playing and laughing. How nice it is to be young and carefree!!! But we’d like to think that our visit did bring some cheer to the kids.
One of the guys who came with us for the visit was so touched by what he saw that he committed to providing us with the groceries for our next few visits to Kapar.
Anyway, for the July visit, we provided potatoes, onions, rice, cooking oil, garlic, wheat flour, noodles, dhall, margarine, sugar, sardines, pasta, bread, fruits, soap, biscuits, instant quaker oat, and Nescafe.
I left Kapar determined to make a difference to their lives.
Free medical saved eyes of 3 Kapar villagers
A medical camp was organized by the Inner Wheels Club of KL at Berjaya Mayasuria estates, Sg. Tenggi, Batang Berjuntai, on Sunday, 24 May ’09. The camp started as early as 9am and ended just after 3pm. Many volunteers, professional medical personnel and their support staff took part in this massive exercise.
The patients are the Poor and Disadvantaged, living around the area. Our Kapar families, about 54 of them attended this camp. They were accompanied by 7 chaperones from G2 (a church-based NGO from Kapar). They came by a chartered bus, early in the morning, and completed their medical check-up by 2pm. After a lunch of nasi lemak and iced coffee, they were transported back to Kapar.
Three children from Kapar were identified to require spectacles, whilst, three adults were diagnosed to require cataract operation. The operations were successfully performed in Aug ’09 free of charge by the Community Service Dept of the Tun Hussein Eye Hospital.
The medical camp went well as it was very organized and systematic. Even though the crowd was large, everything went smoothly. Each and every one of the personnel were very professional in their dealings and yet humane.
The coordinator of the camp, Ms Elizabeth Low was very efficient in handling crisis. Friends of Kapar are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this much needed medical camp. It is hoped that this will be held more regularly so as to benefit the Poor and the Disadvantaged.
Kapar Family No. 1 – Three children, all bow-legged
A young couple in their twenties, with 3 children, all of whom are sadly, bow-legged, including the new born girl. The other 2 children are 1 and 2 yr old boys. The husband works as a security guard, and the mother is a housewife. They live nearby the Kg. Tap Settlement, Kapar.
Kapar Family No. 2 – Two single mothers struggling to feed 5 children & elderly parents
A senior couple living in Kg. Tap Settlement in Kapar, with 2 daughters who are single mothers and their 8 children. Of the 8 children, 3 are already working, but contribute very little to the family. The remaining 5 children ranged from 5 yrs to 14 years old.
Kapar Family No. 3 – First wife ran off with another man and abandoned the children
There are 3 adults in this household, including husband, wife and wife’s sister-in-law. They have 11 children, ranging from 4 to 17 years old. The older 3 children are from her husband’s first wife, who left him for another man and abandoned the children. This couple’s marriage is not registered. The children do not have birth certificate and hence they are not able to go to school. The eldest daughter, who is 17 years old works away from home. She gives money to her parents whenever she comes home. Her husband is a security guard and makes about RM750 a month. He gets paid daily. The wife’s sister-in-law seems ill but we are not sure what her ailment is. They live in Kg. Tap Settlement, Kapar.