T A S P U T R A
Background and Inspiration
Established in November 1987 by a group of like-minded friends, Tasputra became Malaysia’s first Muslim non-profit day care centre for children with disabilities; Since 1991, Tasputra has evolved under the leadership of its present chairman Elahe Norman and is now a therapeutic and learning day centre for children with disabilities. Attendees come from various faiths, ethnicities and financial circumstances.
The inspiration for Tasputra is our belief that every child has an inherent potential, and it is our aim for each child to reach that potential. We know that the costs of available training and therapy are often unaffordable to lower-middle income families, so Tasputra aims to provide these services in a more affordable way.
Mission
Our Mission is to provide swift support to the family of a child with disabilities. Each child is assessed to determine whether Tasputra can meet their needs. If Tasputra cannot, the family will be signposted to alternative contacts within our network.
The children who currently attend Tasputra live with conditions such as cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, autism, development delay, genetic disorders and more. We also encounter diagnosis that are very new to us.
Tasputra provides services to children as young as 1, with some being supported by us into adulthood. The children have various levels of ability and mobility and come from KL, Selangor and beyond.
Programs
Tasputra provides the following:
– Physiotherapy,
-Occupational Therapy,
-Speech Therapy,
-Massage and Aroma Therapy,
-Multi-Sensory Stimulation,
-Swim and Spa Therapy
-Pranic Healing
-Montessori Based Therapies
We also hope to raise funds to recreate the snoezelen room we had in our previous premises.
We are blessed to have specialist health professionals come to Tasputra, who voluntarily upskill and train our staff and volunteers. For decades, free medical care and skin specialist services have also been generously provided to Tasputra by private clinics.
To thrive we believe in the power of good nutrition; so, we provide our children with breakfast on arrival, morning tea at 11.30am (sugar free fruit juice and our famous homemade apple sauce); lunch is at 12pm and afternoon tea at 3pm. All meals are made from scratch. In addition, extra virgin coconut oil is given daily to boost the immune system and prune juice (when available) to aid digestion.
In addition to enabling the children, Tasputra can provide formal and informal training for families, businesses, and the wider community dependent on need.
Miracles happen at Tasputra every day. We have seen children progress from stoma and liquid diets to solids. We have seen children learn to communicate, to walk, to swim here.
Funds
Tasputra is founded on kindness. The majority of our funds come from fundraisers and the generosity of donations. Our monthly expenses are RM65k minimum, so we need this amount just to survive.
Families who can afford to, pay a fee of between RM1000-RM1500 per month. Some are only able to pay much less. We can provide transport to/from Tasputra within the local area.
Partnership
Tasputra works in collaboration with parents and care givers to provide the best possible support for the child. This can include upskilling, sharing knowledge, and case management of treatment plans.
In partnership with Latter-day Saint Charities (LDS) from North America; Tasputra has been providing wheelchairs to those in long-term need who are on a low-income group. We are one of only 3 partners in Malaysia who have been trained to assess and provide recipients with optimally fitted wheelchairs.
Social and Community support
Throughout the years we have worked closely with education institutions, embassy’s, corporations, and other agencies. Post Covid – much has changed. Social events which were once central to our community relationships have taken a back seat. The situation has prompted us to establish a presence online, which we continue to build.
Engagement Opportunities
There are several ways for you to engage with Tasputra. You can volunteer as an individual or as part of a private, community or corporate group.
From assisting children in their therapy session with play, singing or reading; to helping to maintain or improve our grounds and building. You can also support us in preparing for fundraisers such as bazaars or the sale of goods online.
You can also make a huge difference by making a financial donation.
A small contribution by you can make a BIG contribution to the lives of children with disabilities.
