Charity on Boxing Day

Our last welfare programme for year 2011 was the visits two welfare homes, i.e. Pusat Jagaan Beribuan Kasih  and Home for Special People, Cheras in Kajang on 26 December 2011. It was participated by 18 members and friends.

Our first stop was at Pusat Jagaan Beribuan Kasih, which is located at No. 3, Lot 1547, Belakang Taman Bangi, Jln Reko, 43000 Kajang.  It was our second visit to the home for 2011. It has 22 children and 16 senior citizens. We found out that it has recently accepted three young Indian siblings whose father had passed away lately as their mother was unable to support them.  We were also happy to learn that MAXIS had assisted them to raise RM10k to settle the balance of the purchase price for the current premise. They finally got a place to call their own.

Apart from groceries such as rice, cooking oil, milo, potatoes, onions, biscuits, etc, we also donated RM500 for their operating expenses.

 Group photograph with the children

Some of the children in Pusat Jagaan Beribuan Kasih

Next we visited Home for Special People Cheras, which is located No. 35, Jln Rakan 11, Taman Rakan Cheras, 43000 Kajang. It was also our second visit for this Home for 2011.  It has 14 children with various disabilities, such as down syndrome, asperger syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, spastic etc. We were surprised to find out that one of the girls is a normal kid.  Her father, a Malaysian,  had already passed away.  Her mother, who is a Chinese citizen, was deported back to China as she had entered Malaysia illegally. The poor girl is rendered stateless due to her parent's marriage was not properly registered.

We donated some groceries and RM500 to the Home.

Ipoh Charity/Religious Trip 2011

This year, our annual trip to Ipoh was scheduled on 19 - 20 November 2011. It's encouraging that we received full participation of 44 members (i.e. a full busload!!).

First and foremost, before reporting this trip, I would like to say a big sadhu to Ipoh Buddhist Dhamma Association, particularly Bro. Fong Chin Onn who helped us to plan our programme in Ipoh, book lunch and dinner from restaurants in Kampar and Ipoh, and led us to the welfare homes and two monasteries in Ipoh.

On 19/11/2011, our bus departed from Buddhist Maha Vihara at around 8:45am and we reached Vihara Buddha Gotama, Temoh at around 11:00am, which was on time for us to participate in the lunch dana offering to the Sangha.

Offering dana to Bhate Hye by Bro. Dennis

Offering dana to Bhante Hye by Bro. Lau

As we were going to have our lunch in Kampar, we partook some fruits and kuihs only.

Bhante Hye conducted a lively Q&A dhamma session after the lunch dana, which gave us a better understanding of the delicate aspect of the Buddha Dhamma. Many members took the opportunity to clear their doubts about dhamma so much so that extra time had to be allocated for asking the final question.

We bid farewell to Bhante Hye at around 12:45pm and proceed to Kampar for lunch. Our next stop was Batu Gajah Handicapped Children Welfare Home.

The Home has 40 inmates with various mental and physical disabilities. It is now more systematically organised. For the first time, we were issued receipt for the groceries we donated. We also donated RM1,000 to the home.

The administrator who joined the Home few months ago told me that she was very happy to work there. She said the "children" were nurtured with a spirit of helping each other. The physically abled children always help to carry (or push the wheelchair of) the disabled one whenever required. The children were quite happy to see us around, particularly this young lady and this young man (in the picture below) who sang along with Sis. Choo.

However, this boy was a bit shy to receive attention from so many uncles and aunties.

We took a group picture for memory before saying bye bye to all the children.

Our journey to Pusat Jagaan Yayasan Latihan Insan Istimewa (a handicapped children welfare home) in Pasir Putih was hampered by heavy rain. Certain part of the road leading to our destination was inundated and was inaccessible to light vehicles causing massive traffic jam. However, we were still able reach the welfare home as scheduled at around 4:15pm. The rain stopped when we reached there. How lucky were we!!!

The home takes care of 35 "children" with various physical and mental disabilities.

Sis. Sumitra distributed sweets and titbits to the children.
Sis. Sally's motherly touch was so soothing !

Bro. Koy cheered up the young boy on wheel chair.

We left the Home at around 5:00pm.

After dinner, we attended a fellowship gathering at the Ipoh Buddhist Dhamma Association Centre in Canning Garden until 10:00pm.

Welcoming speech by the IBDA's President, Bro. Kiang.

A happy moment. Performance by Bro. Pheng, Sis. Khoo (from Ipoh Buddhist Dhamma Association), Sis. Thum & Sis. Lily Cheah.

The next morning, we visited the Jelapang Old Folk Home and Loyal Handicapped Children Welfare Home in Silibin.

The Jelapang Old Folk Home has about 50 old folks. It was conferred with the "Excellent Organisation Award" by the Registrar of Society in 2008. We donated RM1,000 to the Home and also distributed angpows to the old folks.

Bro. Dr. Koh and Sis. Lily Cheah distributed angpows to the old folks at Jalapang Old Folk Home

This uncle (above) is the best singer in Jelapang Old Folk Home.

Sis. Lily Cheah (left) and Bro. Pheng (right) rendered a song to entertain the old folks

The Loyal Handicapped Children Welfare Home is located at No. 17, Lorong Silibin, 30100 Ipoh. It was was established in 1999 and has about 39 "children" of various severe disabilities. We donated RM1,000 and some groceries to the home.

Group photograph with the children at Loyal Handicapped Children Welfare Home. The man in in purple batik shirt is the founder and care taker of  this home.

Next we visited two monasteries, Dhammapiti Meditation Monastery in Gunung Lang and Sukhavana Meditation Monastery in Bercham.

Listening to dhamma talk by Ven.  Thitavijjo Dhammapiti Meditation Monastery.

Bro. Koh offered robe to Ven. Thitavijjo

Sukhavana Meditation Monastery is housed in a cave in Bercham next to Huat Thien Keong Chinese Temple. Here are some snapshots of the monastery.

Charity trip on Deepavali Day

On 26 October 2011, Welfare Section organised a trip to two welfare homes in Klang Valley, which were participated by thirteen members and friends.

In the morning, we visited the Kim Loo Ting Hong Ying Welfare Home at Lorong Air Putih, Off Jln Air Panas, 53200 Setapak. It was our third visit for year 2011.

Kim Loo Ting was set up by a Mahayana monk who helps terminally ill elderly patients but have to leave the hospital(s), homeless and single without any dependents. The patients are given a decent and clean place to stay with proper care until they leave this world. The founder had already passed away. Currently, the home is managed by Rev. Seck Fa Yin. We donated RM1,600 towards the home's bereavement fund.

In the afternoon, we visited the Bodhisetra Sanctuary Welfare Home in Taman Ikan Emas, Cheras. The home has 8 children and 6 old folks. It was our second visit for year 2011.

We were informed that DBKL has issued them an eviction notice due to redevelopment of the land which belong to the Government. We hope DBKL will relocate them to an alternative premise with adequate space. We donated RM500 to the home.

Raub Charity Trip 2011

We organised a charity outing in Raub on 6 - 7/8/2011. It was participated by 40 members and friends.
On 6/8/2011, our bus departed from Buddhist Maha Vihara, KL at 8:45am. Upon our arrival in Raub, our host, Raub Buddhist Association (RBA Committee) gave us sumptuous welcoming vegetarian lunch at Silver City Restaurant.

Sis Cheoh, Sis Janifer, Sis Mary & Sis Sally surely had enjoyed their lunch very much. All the bowls and plates before them were empty.

After lunch, our host brought us to visit five needy families to give them moral and financial support.

(1) Two brothers who suffers from glaucoma. The elder brother's wife has breast cancer and his grandson has eye cancer. Bro. Terry Ng (a Reiki expert) gave reiki treatment to the two brothers.
(2) A jobless single father with an eleven year old daughter. He also has to look after his 86 year old mother. Sis. Tiau Min also arranged a single lady who suffers from a stubborn skin disease and arthritis to meet us at the same place. Sis. Mary and Sis. Tan gave Reiki treatment to the single lady.
(3) A single mother with two mentally challenged sons.
One of her son bid farewell to us when we were leaving their house.

(4) A couple with two children. The husband is ill and unable to work.
(5) A single mother who suffers from SLE and kidney failure.
After dinner at Ah Fatt Restaurant, we attended an inspiring dhamma talk delivered by Dato' Ang Choo Hong. The title of the talk was "Engaged Buddhism and self-cultivation".
On the 2nd day, we commenced our program by visiting the "Pasar Tani" (Farmers' Market). Due to Muslims' fasting month, there were fewer stalls than last year.
We then visited three old folk homes and and another six needy families. Below are the snapshots of our visits.

At Sg Lui Old Folk Home. This home has 7 inmates.

Group photograph at Sg. Ruan Old Folk Home. This home has 10 inmates.

A single mother, who has breast cancer and uterine cancer. She has two daughters.

A mentally challenged boy. He is looked after by his maternal grandmother, who has breast cancer.

Photograph with a bachelor who has cancer.

A bachelor with brain tumour.

An Indian family with 11 children. The husband is bedridden.

We have a group photograph with the committee of Raub Buddhist Association before bidding farewell to them.

Charitable Visits to Two Welfare Homes in Kajang

On 16 April 2011, we visited two welfare homes in Kajang, i.e. Thousands of Love Care Centre (Pusat Jagaan Beribuan Kasih) which is located at No. 3, Lot 1547, Belakang Taman Bangi, Jln Reko, 43000 Kajang and Home For Special People Cheras at No. 35, Jln Rakan 11, Taman Rakan Cheras, 43000 Kajang.

Our visit to Thousands of Love Care Centre was in response to an SMS appealing for financial aid from the caretaker, Ms. Kavitha.

The centre takes care of 38 inmates, consists of 22 children and 16 senior citizens. Its financilal resources rely solely from public support. The premise of the centre is rented at RM500 per month.

We brought them some sundry provisions (rice, cooking oil, beehoon, vico, biscuits, oats, nestum cereal, eggs, onions, instant noodles, etc) and donated RM500.

Our visit to Home for Special People Cheras was recommended by Sis. Leong Lan (one of our supporter).

The home has 14 children with various disabilities, such as down syndrome, asperger syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, spastic etc.

Mr. Ten, one of the committee gave us a briefing about the Home. I was quite impressed that they keep a detailed record of all their children, such as date of birth, place of birth, their characteristics and condition of their illnesses , their favorite food and favorite game/toys and what they dislike etc. So far I have yet to see any of the special children homes we visited did that (perhaps other homes do that too but didn't put up the complete children profile for public viewing)

They also draw up a time table for the children's daily activities,

6:00am - 7:00am Wake up & shower

7:15am - 8:15am Breakfast followed by exercise

9:00am - 10:00am Tea Break & rest

10:00am - 12:00pm Study, writing, coloring book, handicraft learning, playing & puzzle

12:00am - 1:00pm Lunch time

1:00pm - 2:00pm Study, writing, coloring book, handicraft learning, playing & puzzle

2:00pm - 3:00pm Music time/playing toys/games

3:00pm - 3:30pm Tea Break

3:30pm - 4:30pm TV time

4:30pm - 5:30pm Shower & cleanup

5:30pm - 7:00pm Dinner preparation followed by dinner

7:00pm - 8:30pm Free time

8:30pm - 6:00am Sleep

The home spent about RM12,000 monthly, which is solely funded by public donation.

The kids love visitors, but some of them are camera-shy

We donated RM500 and gave them some sundry provisions (cooking oil, rice, vico, biscuits, beehoon etc). Of course, as usual, we took a group photograph together.