KL Charities (4): Children of HIV sufferers

This time, I'm focusing on a house built on love for children of AIDS sufferers. Many of them have AIDS as well, and over the years, the house have seen deaths of its occupants.

The place is Kg Cheras Baru, and the house's official name is the Persatuan Kebajikan Anak-Anak Pesakit HIV dan AIDS Nurul Iman (Pernim) or in English - Nurul Iman Society for the Welfare of Children of HIV and AIDS Patients. The short form is PERNIM.

PERNIM's founder is one very beautiful lady, Norlina Alawi. It was established officially in 2004. Although PERNIM focuses mainly on children of AIDS sufferers, it also takes in unwanted children and abused girls.



She also has a book about her experience with her PERNIM children, titled Sesuci Kasih. Pls take a look at my translation below of an excerpt from the book. It's a first person view of one of the children there. Hopefully it'll move some of us to help PERNIM in any way we can.

When we first lived with Mama (PERNIM's Norlina), we really didn't know anything. I think we couldn't care less what would happen to us. Even when mom and dad was still alive no one gives a damn about us. Nobody cared whether we went to school, whether we ate, whether we knew how to read or whatever. No one scolded us. And of course we ourselves didn't care. We preferred not going to school. Because when we did we kept getting scolded by teachers.

Friends picked on us all the time. What can we say - our mom and dad really did died because of drugs. We knew drugs are evil. But what could we have done? We can't possibly tell off our mom and dad.

We often didn't have money to eat. If we have money, mom and dad would use it to buy drugs. We cdn't say anything. Sometimes we cried because we were so hungry. If there was really nothing to eat, we would prefer to sleep. However you can't really sleep when hungry.

When we had the chance, we would go to our neighbours' house. If we were lucky, we would get to eat biscuits with tea. If we were really hungry, we would go to their house when they were having rice. If we were lucky they would ask us to join them. But we knew that we shouldn't do that too often.

With the good-hearted neighbours, they would ask us to join them eat. But if we did it too often, they'd ask us to go away. They said we were dirty and smelly. But how could we go back and take a bath? Many times our water supply were cut, as mom didn't pay our water bills. And don't ever dream of brushing your teeth or using body soap. Mom could never afford to buy those things. When we did have our bath, two or three scoops would be enough.

When mom and dad passed away, it was really tough. We stayed with relatives sometimes, but not for long. No one really wanted to take care of us. Sometimes we felt sad. But we never did dwell on those kind of thoughts. When no one wanted to take care of us anymore, we slept by the roadside, at bus stops, everywhere.

Meals? If we wanted easy meal, we just wait at foodstalls. When people throw away food, we'd pick them up. But as we were really hungry we couldn't care less. Sometimes, some of the foods were really good. Even better than any ever served by mom.

When we got sent to Mama's house (PERNIM), we were scared. We thought living with Mama was like living in an orphanage. But after a few days, it was really different. This was actually her house, she lives here. And we take all our meals with her. ...

Sorry about the weak translation. Below is the actual excerpt from the book in Bahasa Malaysia. It is much longer. I really hope someone could translate the whole thing into English.

“Dalam hidup kami memang tiada siapa-siapa. Bukanlah kata tak ada saudara-mara tapi entahlah. Saudara-mara pun tak pernah jengah kami. Yang kami tahu kami cuma ada Mama, Papa dan keluarga di sini. Memanglah Mama tak kaya. Tapi kami cukup senang hati tinggal dengan Mama. Kalau tak ada Mama kami tak tahu apa agaknya yang jadi pada kami. Agaknya tanpa Mama dan Papa, kami mungkin jadi anak terbiar.

Masa mula-mula tinggal dengan Mama, kami memang tak tahu apa. Rasanya kami tak peduli dengan apa yang akan terjadi pada kami. Selama ini pun sewaktu mak dan abah ada, tak ada siapa pun yang pernah ambil tahu pasal kami. Pergi sekolah ke, makan ke, tahu membaca ke, tak kisah pun. Tak ada siapa yang nak marah. Kami lagilah tak ambil tahu. Kalau tak pergi sekolah lagi seronok. Sebab kalau pergi sekolah pun asyik kena marah.

Kawan-kawan memang biasa ejek kami. Kami tak boleh nak kata apa-apa sebab mak dan abah kami memang mati sebab dadah. Kami tahu dadah tu benda tak baik. Tapi nak buat macam mana..takkan kami nak tegur arwah mak dan arwah abah dulu. Kalau kami mengintai-intai pun, silap-silap kena tengking atau kena pukul dengan mereka.

Dahulu kami selalu tak ada duit nak makan. Kalau ada duit sikit-sikit, arwah emak dan arwah abah guna untuk beli beli dadah. Kami tak boleh nak kata apa. Kadang-kadang tu menangis jugak sebab perut lapar sangat. Kalau dah tak ada benda langsung nak makan, kami tidur je. Itupun bukan boleh tidur sangat.

Bila ada peluang, kami curi-curi pergi rumah jiran. Kalau nasib baik dapatlah makan biskut dan minum air teh. Kalau dah tak tahan sangat, masa kawan kami tu makan nasi kami jengah-jengah. Untung-untung, dia ajak makan sekali. Tapi kami pun tahu tak boleh buat selalu.

Kalau jiran yang baik hati, memang diajak makan. Tapi kalau dah selalu sangat, jiran-jiran halau kami balik. Kata mereka, kami ni busuk dan kotor. Nak balik mandi macamana.. ada masa rumah kami tak ada air, sebab arwah mak tak bayar bil. Nak gosok gigi atau sabun badan lagilah tak ada. Manalah arwah maka mampu nak beli macam-macam. Kalau mandi tu, kita orang siram badan setakat dua tiga gayung aje.

Bila arwah emak dan abah meninggal dunia, kami memang susah. Kalau ada saudara ynag ajak tinggal bersama pun, tak lama. Semuanya tak sanggup bela kami. Kadang-kadang tu rasa juga sedih. Tapi kami malas nak fikir. Kalau dah tak ada orang nak jaga kami, kami tidur kat tepi jalan ke, kat tempat tunggu bas ke, kami tak kisah. Mana-mana pun boleh tidur.

Makan? Kalau nak senang makan, tunggu dekat kedai makan. Kalau ada baki nasi atau lauk yang dia orang buang, kami kutip. Memanglah kotor. Tapi kalau perut dah lapar sangat kami tak kisah. Ada masa, sedap-sedap juga makanan yang kami jumpa. Lebih sedap daripada apa yang pernah arwah mak berikan untuk kami.

Bila kami kena hantar dekat rumah Mama, kami takut juga. Kami ingatkan duduk rumah Mama ni macam asrama anak yatim. Tapi bila duduk sehari dua, memang lain daripada asrama anak yatim. Rumah Mama ni memang rumah dia. Makan minum semua dengan Mama.

Masa baru-baru tu takut juga. Mama memang garang kalau kami degil. Yalah, dekat sini ramai anak Mama. Semua Mama layan sama sahaja. Tapi kalau degil sangat, Mama gigit jari kami. Kata Mama, dia tak sampai hati nak rotan sebab kami semua kurus-kurus sangat, jadi dia gigit jari kami. Rasa kelakar pun ada, takut pun ada... tapi yang paling payah nak ikut bila Mama suruh kami mandi, gosok gigi, solat dan pergi sekolah.

Mula-mula tu memang tak suka sebab Mama suka berleter kalau kami tak mandi. Mama akan jeritkan pada kami kalau kami bau busuk, tak gosok gigi atau tak sikat rambut. Tapi lama-lama tu macam ok pulak sebab memang tak selesa bila tak gosok gigi. Mulut busuk dan gigi pun selalu sakit, nak makan tak selesa.

Sejak tinggal dengan Mama, barulah kami dapat pakai cantik-cantik. Mama belikan kami baju sama saja dengan apa yang dia beli untuk anak sendiri. Kalau pagi ni kami pakai hijau, semua anak Mama yang lain akan pakai baju warna hijau. Kalau esok pakai warna biru, semua akan pakai warna biru. Pakai mesti kemas, Mama tak suka anak Mama nampak comot. Pakai baju mesti kemaskan dan masukkan hujung baju dalam seluar.

Makan pun sedap. Makan ramai-ramai lagi sedap. Memang selalunya laju aje kami makan. Kalau makan, Mama suruh kami baca doa daulu. Lepas tu tak boleh buat sepah. Sesiapa buat sepah kena marah dengan Mama. Selain itu Mama ajar kami kemas tempat makan sendiri. Tapi masa mula-mula datang dulu, kami paling tak suka bila kena belajar. Tak kiralah belajar mengaji ke, belajar solat ke atau sekolah, memang kami benci. Tapi Mama paksa juga. Mama hantar kami belajar macam-macam. Belajar tae kwon do, belajar mengaji, belajar mental arithmetic. Selalu kami menangis bila belajar susah. Tapi Mama paksa kami sampai boleh. Bila dapat A dalam semua pelajaran kat sekolah, Mama peluk cium kami.

Kalau dulu tak pandai sembahyang, sekarang setiap kali solat kami tak pernah ponteng. Masa Maghrib, kami sembahyang jemaah. Mama dan Papa mengajar kami mendoakan untuk arwah emak dan arwah ayah kami. Mama selalu pesan, biar apapun yang berlaku, mereka tetap ayah dan ibu kandung kami. Kalau mereka tak ada, beerti kami pun tak ada di dunia ini.

Kami memang tahu Mama selalu kena kata dengan orang ramai pasal menjaga kami. Macam-macam orang kutuk Mama. Ada kata Mama gila, ada cakap Mama orang tak betul. Tapi Mama selalu suruh kami sabar. Mama jaga kami. Mama tak suka tengok kami sedih. Kalau ada orang ejek kami di sekolah, Mama pesan suruh beritahu. Bukan Mama nak mengamuk atau marah orang tu balik, tapi Mama akan cakap cara elok. Mama bukan sahaja nasihatkan budak yang ejek kami, selalunya Mama akan berkenalan dengan emak budak yang mengejek kami tu. Mama terangkan pada mereka masalah kami. Lepas tu jarang orang mengejek kami. Semua dah berkawan dengan kami. Cikgu-cikgu pun sayang kami. Lebih-lebih lagi bila kami selalu dapat cemerlang dalam peperiksaan.

Kami selalu menagis bila berdoa ramai-ramai selepas solat jemaah. Tak tahulah kenapa kami nangis. Bila salam Mama, kucup tangan Mama, kami rasa sedih sangat. Mama selalu ingatkan kami, apa juga kami buat, ingatkan Allah. Mama pesan kalau kami buat baik dan jaga solat, arwah emak dan arwah ayah kami akan sejuk di kubur. Lagi satu perkara yang menyebabkan kami rasa sedih, bila kenangkan sebab kami, Mama selalu susah. Mama selalu tak cukup duit belanja untuk kami. Belanja makan, belanja sekolah dan duit ubat kami. Mama cuma kata, kami tak perlu fikir semua tu. Itu urusan Mama. Kalau Mama kena kutuk pun, Mama selalu pesan, diam dan ingat Allah.

Orang pernah tuduh Mama dera kami. Orang kata Mama tak jaga kami. Tapi semua orang tu cuma pandai cakap aje, pandai mengutuk aje. Kalaulah Mama biarkan kami, rasanya sampai sekarang kami tak pandai membaca. Mengira duit pun kami tak reti. Kalau betul Mama dera kami, rasanya kami pun tak mahu peluk cium Mama macam biasa. Mama memang garang dengan kami, tapi itupun kalau kami degil dan tak ikut cakap.

Paling Mama marah kalau ada antara kami yang sakit dan tak makan ubat ikut jadual. Mama memang akan jeritkan nama kami kalau tak makan ubat. Mama selalu pesan, ubat kami bukannya murah. Kalau kami sakit dan pengsan di sekolah, itu nanti akan menyusahkan Mama juga. Kami tak kecil hati kalau Mama marah kami sebab itu. Yalah, kami ada HIV, kami tahu penyakit itu bahaya. Kalau tak jaga boleh bawa mati. Mama sayangkan kami sebab tu Mama selalu ingatkan kami berkali-kali., “Makan ubat! Makan ubat! Kalau tak makan ubat, nanti boleh mati. Tahu tak M A T I !"

Selalunya kalau Mama dah marah macam tu, kami peluk dan cium Mama. Kami minta ampun dengan Mama. Kami janji tak nak degil-degil. Kami tahu Mama sayangkan kami. Kami tahu Mama tak mahu kami pergi terlalu cepat. Kami tahu semua tu. Kalau tak, takkan Mama sanggup susukan anak orang yang ada HIV/AIDS. Buat apa Mama nak susah-susah. Tapi Mama selalu cakap, dia buat semua itu sebab dia memang sayangkan kami. Dia nak kami yang sakit boleh hidup lama sikit. Kalau tanya pada kami, entahlah..kadang-kadang rasa takut ingatkan pasal mati, kadang-kadang macam tak rasa apa-apa.

Mama selalu pesan, kalau orang yang selalu solat, Allah sayangkan mereka. Orang yang rajin mengaji dan solat, tak akan diseksa dalam kubur. Sejak bersama Mama, kami tak pernah tinggal solat. Harap-harap Allah ampunkan dosa kami. Kami memang nakal dulu. Kami tak pernah mengaji atau solat. Tapi kini semua kami dah buat.

Ada masanya kalau tengah malam, kami susah nak tidur. Kami selalu teringat kisah lama kami. Zaman kami susah dahulu. Bila teringat kampung memang sedih, tapi bila teringat Mama yang baik hati sanggup susah payah sebab kami, kami lagi sedih. Kami selalu terbayang ...macam manalah kami boleh balas jasa Mama.

Kami selalu berdoa, minta-minta Allah panjangkan sikit umur kami. Biar kami dapat masuk universiti, biar kami dapat kerja bagus, dapat gaji. Kami nak beri Mama duit, nak belikan Mama baju, nak belikan Mama kek..seperti apa yang Mama pernah beri kami.

Kami nak Mama senang. Kami nak Mama rehat. Mama dah penat jaga kami. Kami selalu doa sendiri-sendiri dalam hati. Mama tak tahu tapi kami cerita pada Auntie Lily aje..

Kami teringin hidup lama sikit..bukan sebab takut mati, bukan sebab seronok nak hidup lama macam orang lain, tapi kami teringin nak tolong Mama. Harap-harap Allah dengar doa kami. Harap-harap kami sempat balas jasa Mama sebelum kami pergi....

It makes depressing reading. But thankfully there are enough good people helping them. Puan Norlina is ably supported by her husband, who the children call Papa, and many volunteers too help out with the kids now and then. They get free healthcare from Hospital Kuala Lumpur in Cheras and also from Poliklinik Gomez at Taman Dagang under Dr. Patrick J. Lawrence. And the FT Religious Council recently approved a grant of RM176k.

But as always, all assistance are required especially the human factor - just to show our love and that we care. So if you are interested, pls use the contact numbers below and get in touch with Pernim yourself.

Address: Persatuan Kebajikan Anak Pesakit HIV/AIDS Nurul Iman Malaysia (PERNIM), Lot 45, 46, 47, Jalan 47, Bukit C, Kg Cheras Baru, 56100 Kuala Lumpur
Registration No. : 0423-04-5
Tel : 03-42950775, 017-8860208
Fax : 03-42951079
E-mel : norlina_pernim@yahoo.com

Account Number : 2-14013-6000-3173 (RHB Bank)
Account Name : Pusat Perlindungan PERNIM
Cheque or postal order under PUSAT PERLINDUNGAN PERNIM.

Thanks. Pls spread this posting.

KL Charities (3): Darul Kifayah Orphanage Complex

If in my previous two posts I wrote about efforts by non-governmental groups and individuals, here is one charity effort by the Government, in particular, this one is by the MAIWP, or the FT Islamic Religious Council.

The Darul Kifayah Orphanage Complex is the largest of all orphanage complex in Malaysia, and currently house around 490 orphans and kids from poor families.



This house is fully supported by the Government, meaning the kids there get free board, lessons and meals. And as you can see. their hostel and place of study are not too shabby.

But they also need love and attention, and however much their teachers can give those, volunteers from the outside world (meaning us) will always do wonders to raise spirits and morale. Plus, the sheer number of the kids here means that individual attention and guidance from the staff and teachers will never be enough.

Any volunteers or groups willing to help can call the Headmaster, Faridilatras Abd. Rahman at 03-62570960 or the Council direct at 03-4047 9444.

KL Charities (2): Kechara Soup Kitchen

Have you ever been really hungry? I mean really hungry ... and with no idea where your next meal is coming from?

Of course many of us have experienced hunger because of the yearly Puasa in Ramadhan, but then we do that out of our own volition, often starting with a full stomach from sahur, and then knowing full well that at 7.15 pm sharp we'll eat and drink to our hearts content.

But hungry, penniless and homeless. I must admit I don't know how it feel. But many in KL do. We may think that we don't have homeless people in Malaysia or in KL in particular. Well guess what my friends, we do. Fortunately there are people who help them, and in this my second part, I'm writing about an organization called Kechara Soup Kitchen, who gives food to homeless people in KL.

Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK) is a registered society affiliated to Kechara House, a Buddhist organization. The aim of the organisation is to contribute towards improving the society of Malaysia in the scope of feeding the homeless and urban poor and to help those who wish to re-enter society. Although Buddhists, they distribute only halal food to the homeless and urban poor.

With the motto 'Hunger Knows No Barriers', KSK volunteers come from all walks of life, all races, religions and cultures.

Volunteers gather at Kechara House 2 in PJ to pack food on Saturdays at 9.30pm and Sundays at 4.30pm, before heading for food distribution rounds in town.

On average, 500 packs of halal food, consisting of biscuits, snacks, drinking water, fruits and hot food are now distributed to the homeless. The current volume of food distributed has more than doubled since commencement of services.

The areas covered are:
o Bukit Bintang
o Petaling Street
o Pudu Raya
o Pudu Market
o Chow Kit
o Masjid Jamek Area
o Brickfields
o Petaling Jaya

To help as volunteer, call this number, +603 - 7803 3908

KL Charities (1): Seri Sinar charity organisation

In this fast-paced city of Kuala Lumpur, it is easy for us to forget about the hard-up people, as we are too busy trying to find that little bit more money to ease our own living.

Thankfully, not all are like that. There are still so many people and groups out there, whether registered or not, that are doing their best to alleviate the sufferings of the unfortunate citizens of our beloved city.

From today, I'm starting a series to blog about these people, in the hope that my readers can be exposed to their works and get involved in any way they can.

I'm going to start with this guy Datuk Eadon Ching and his organization, http://recyclecharity.org

I don't need to post any original article by myself, as this article from The Star succintly tell his stories.

One man finds worth in other people’s discards and uses them to raise funds for charity.

THE Seri Sinar charity organisation has succeeded where many have failed – establishing a network of centres for people to drop off their recyclables with ease. And that feat can be attributed to the efforts of its founder, Datuk Eadon Ching.

Ching, 52, started the organisation in 2003 with the aim of raising funds for charity by collecting and selling recyclables. The group has donated over RM700,000 to date, benefiting orphanages, poor students, underprivileged children, the sick and disabled, single mothers, old folks’ homes and orang asli communities.

Much to be done: ‘I consider my efforts a failure because many people are still not aware about recycling and sim ply throw things. We need to educate people,’ says Datuk Eadon Ching .

While many recycling ventures struggle to survive, Seri Sinar’s continue to grow as Ching, who has a car dealership, runs it as he would his business. He adopted numerous measures not commonly seen in most recycling schemes, such as hiring workers instead of using volunteers, and investing in huge recycling boxes (they each cost RM2,000), storage space as well as vehicles for prompt pickups and speedy clearance of the boxes.

“We provide a platform for people to give away their things instead of throwing them away. We’ll find a use for the things and generate funds at the same time,” says Ching, an avid charity volunteer for the past 20 years.

He brought into the group his experience in helming a recycling scheme for another charitable organisation in the 1990s. “That earlier scheme collected mainly newspapers. Since many other items can be recycled, I wanted this new organisation to take everything and not be selective like some groups which do not collect low-value waste,” says Ching.

Seri Sinar (www.recyclecharity.org) now has 200 recycling boxes in residential sites all over the Klang Valley for people to drop off their recyclables and support charity at the same time. Its 26 mobile collection centres, held on specific days at specific sites, also makes it easy for the public to recycle. Its lorries will also pick up bulky items such as furniture and electrical appliances from homes.

“For recycling to work, it has to be convenient for people,” says Ching.

Because the activity is labour-intensive, Ching does not rely on volunteers but has hired a staff of 60. Some of them start work as early as 6am to distribute educational leaflets to the morning crowd at markets while others stand in the hot sun manning mobile collection centres, carry heavy furniture down flights of stairs or sort through messy trash.

Wary of workers channelling away recyclables for personal profits – something which has caused the breakdown of other recycling schemes – Ching monitors his staff closely.

“I am very strict with my workers as human greed is always there. I will move the workers around and will not have the same people working together for too long.”

It is estimated that the Seri Sinar recycling scheme has diverted over 60,000 tonnes of recyclables from landfills.

“I have had to move to bigger premises five times because of the growing volume of waste. You must have ample storage space as some items cannot be sold immediately,” says Ching.

His newest waste sorting centre sprawls over 0.52ha in Hulu Langat, Selangor. Each day, his fleet of 20 lorries haul in 40 to 50 tonnes of waste from the recycling boxes scattered all over the Klang Valley. At the centre, workers sort the waste according to types: plastic, metal, plastic bags, clothes, bags, shoes, books, glass, paper, furnishing, electrical appliances (TVs, refrigerators, washing machines), computers, wires and so on.

“We get all sorts of things, some stuff you’ve never seen before. And you will be surprised. Whatever the waste, there will be someone who will want it,” says Ching.

At the sorting centre, wastes which have reusable value are quickly carted away by traders looking for deals. Other discards, such as the bags of unused cotton gloves lying in one corner, will have to be stored until someone wants them. Usable furniture and electrical appliances are given away to charities and sometimes, sold to second-hand dealers or scrap dealers.

But there will always be things which no one wants or can no longer be used. One bin is full of such waste: soiled pillow and clothes, broken furniture, odds and ends (including those plastic gold-coloured nuggets used for Chinese New Year decorations) and other stuff beyond recognition.

“Every day, at least one lorry-load of such waste has to be sent to the landfill,” says Ching. It appears that people still use the Seri Sinar recycling box as trash bins. And not everyone who call its hotline are genuinely charitable. “Some just want to clear their unwanted things conveniently. They insist that my workers take even broken furniture. If we don’t, they’ll accuse us of only choosing the good things.”

With success comes copycats. Some groups have used recycling bins similar to Seri Sinar’s, and claiming them to be for charity. Ching has even discovered a group of teenagers using his organisation’s name to ask for public donation of recyclables and cash. He has made at least 10 reports of such false claims in the past year alone.

Requests for Ching to start similar recycling ventures have come from other towns and even as far as Tawau, Sabah, but he has had to turn them down.

“It is not easy and I cannot find the right people to do it. Even now, I do a lot of the work myself. I will personally visit a location to see if it is an ideal spot to put recycling bins.

“A recycling scheme requires passion and dedication. People only see where I have succeeded, not where I have failed, especially in my early days. Initially, I even had to sell old toys and kitchen appliances at the pasar malam as I had no space to store them and needed to pay my staff.”

Dispelling claims that he had profited from the recycling scheme, Ching says he had initially forked out some RM30,000 to kickstart the organisation. And when prices of recyclables plunged last year, he resorted to seeking donations from friends to sustain the charity group.

Ching points out that the shifting prices and fluctuating volume of recyclables – it peaks during festive seasons and year-end – as well as the growing number of collectors meant that Seri Sinar could not depend solely on this activity for its funds.

To sustain the group in the long run, he has ventured into environment-related businesses such as marketing gadgets that save electricity and reduce fuel consumption in cars.
Bearing witness to man’s excesses every day, it comes as no surprise that Ching is one to practise a less wasteful lifestyle.

“At home, I have three bags for different trash. I use containers when buying food and drinks, and seldom buy clothes. I always tell people to reduce, and try and make full use of everything they own. Because people have buying power nowadays, they are always buying new things. These excesses will result in waste.”

He downplays his contributions in promoting recycling, stressing that a lot still has to be done.
“I consider my efforts a failure because many people are still not aware about recycling and simply throw things. We need to educate people,” he adds.

But it has to be said that the Seri Sinar recycling scheme has expanded faster than any other setup and the group has done more for recycling than any local governments or solid waste management consortia.

Seri Sinar accepts all kinds of recyclables including plastic bags, CDs, videotapes, cassettes, computers and electrical appliances. For the locations of their recycling boxes and mobile collection centres, call 03-9021 1888 or e-mail: serisinar@recyclecharity.org.