The Star online. News. North. Saturday April 28, 2007
By SIRA HABIBU
DIVORCEE Norshafilla Osman, 38, will take a sampan ride with her two children from their home in Kampung Seberang Nonya to enjoy free lunch at Soup Kitchen in Jalan Putra, Alor Star, Kedah.
She will pay 20 sen for each person but the trip is worthwhile as they can have a decent meal for the day.
Norshafilla, who is jobless, will take her two sons Muhammad Tauhiq Firddauz Abu Bakar, 12, and Muhammad Iqllas Firddauz, nine, to the place or the nearby Masjid Nagore whenever they are hungry.
The three are among the poor and the downtrodden who throng Soup Kitchen where free lunches are served from 11.30am to 2.30pm from Sundays to Thursdays.
Norshafilla said when she did not have the money, they would walk for 2km to come and eat there.
Muhammad Tauhiq is not attending school because his mother could not enroll him into a school in Kedah after he ran away from a children’s home in Kepala Batas, Penang.
“I want to be with my mother in Alor Star. I do not understand why I could not go to school in Kedah. I wish I can sit for UPSR this year,” he said
Muhammad Tauhiq said he escaped from the children’s home in November last year on a bicycle, claiming that the senior sisters bullied him.
However, he was stopped by policemen along the North South Highway near the Sungai Petani Utara toll plaza before he was brought back to his mother.
Muhammad Tauhiq claimed that his brothers, aged six, 13 and 15, were victims of child abuse.
Norshafilla said she had to surrender her children to the Welfare Department because she could not afford to take care of them.
“But now I want them back. I do not want them to suffer anymore. They may be hungry when they are with me, but at least they are happy,” she said.
Showing posts with label children's homes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label children's homes. Show all posts
Monday, 30 April 2007
Wednesday, 11 April 2007
2006 04: Children's home with a difference
The Star online. News. Central. Saturday April 15, 2006
By STUART MICHAEL
MICHAELstuart@thestar.com.my
AFTER 23 years, Pastor Michel Wright's wife, Pastor Sheila Wright, has realised her dream of opening a home for underprivileged children. Named the House of Matthew, the home is located in Taman Sri Gombak.
Michel said that his wife had never forgotten a particular child abuse case and wanted to do something for underprivileged children.
“At the House of Matthew, we want the children to get to know the feeling of a family environment.
“To this end, 20 families have volunteered to let the children live with them in their homes for a week to get to know the family environment.
“The children here will get to do this once a month,'' said Michel at the launch of the home on Tuesday in Taman Sri Gombak.
There are presently six children at the House of Matthew.
Explaining the rationale behind the stress on the family environment, Michel said, “I thought that if the children could live with families in proper homes, they would learn family values.
“And when they start working, we hope they will be an asset to society.
“Children are our future. Without them, we can’t expect any future.”
Michel stressed, however, that they needed help.
“We need help from the public in the form of donations to be self-sustaining in terms of food, transport and cash,” he said.
Gombak MP Datuk Dr Raman Ismail, who graced the opening, congratulated Michel for taking the initiative to do good for society.
“This is what the Government wants in our community – a self-sustaining, independent non-profit organisation looking to curb social ills.
“Others should follow their example and try to help society,”' Dr Raman said after officiating the opening.
The children later entertained guests with two songs before tea was served.
By STUART MICHAEL
MICHAELstuart@thestar.com.my
AFTER 23 years, Pastor Michel Wright's wife, Pastor Sheila Wright, has realised her dream of opening a home for underprivileged children. Named the House of Matthew, the home is located in Taman Sri Gombak.
Michel said that his wife had never forgotten a particular child abuse case and wanted to do something for underprivileged children.
“At the House of Matthew, we want the children to get to know the feeling of a family environment.
“To this end, 20 families have volunteered to let the children live with them in their homes for a week to get to know the family environment.
“The children here will get to do this once a month,'' said Michel at the launch of the home on Tuesday in Taman Sri Gombak.
There are presently six children at the House of Matthew.
Explaining the rationale behind the stress on the family environment, Michel said, “I thought that if the children could live with families in proper homes, they would learn family values.
“And when they start working, we hope they will be an asset to society.
“Children are our future. Without them, we can’t expect any future.”
Michel stressed, however, that they needed help.
“We need help from the public in the form of donations to be self-sustaining in terms of food, transport and cash,” he said.
Gombak MP Datuk Dr Raman Ismail, who graced the opening, congratulated Michel for taking the initiative to do good for society.
“This is what the Government wants in our community – a self-sustaining, independent non-profit organisation looking to curb social ills.
“Others should follow their example and try to help society,”' Dr Raman said after officiating the opening.
The children later entertained guests with two songs before tea was served.
2006 04: When in need, go only to registered homes
The Star online. News. Central. Wednesday April 12, 2006
IT IS good if the needy go to homes that have been registered with the relevant authorities. Out of desperation, however, many do not.
Selangor Welfare Department director Halijah Yahaya said the caretakers of charitable homes and day care centres had to register with not only the Registrar of Society, but also with their respective state welfare departments.
“Only then can we assist and protect the orphans or abandoned children should there be an abuse of power at the homes,'' she said.
Halijah said that though the Federal Welfare Department did the registration and the Director-General issued the licences, the recommendation would come from the state.
“So we, at the state level, will know who operates what homes and can monitor them at all times,'' she said, adding that state welfare officers would assist the homes in going through the process.
The management of registered homes would also have to be transparent with their accounts and activities.
The department also makes sure that the homes abide by the rules and regulations, including holding of meetings.
However, it is not compulsory for the homes to be registered with the welfare department. Rumah Jagaan Titian Kasih is one that has yet to be registered. Its application has yet to be approved by the department.
IT IS good if the needy go to homes that have been registered with the relevant authorities. Out of desperation, however, many do not.
Selangor Welfare Department director Halijah Yahaya said the caretakers of charitable homes and day care centres had to register with not only the Registrar of Society, but also with their respective state welfare departments.
“Only then can we assist and protect the orphans or abandoned children should there be an abuse of power at the homes,'' she said.
Halijah said that though the Federal Welfare Department did the registration and the Director-General issued the licences, the recommendation would come from the state.
“So we, at the state level, will know who operates what homes and can monitor them at all times,'' she said, adding that state welfare officers would assist the homes in going through the process.
The management of registered homes would also have to be transparent with their accounts and activities.
The department also makes sure that the homes abide by the rules and regulations, including holding of meetings.
However, it is not compulsory for the homes to be registered with the welfare department. Rumah Jagaan Titian Kasih is one that has yet to be registered. Its application has yet to be approved by the department.
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