PETALING JAYA: Tasputra Perkim Daycare Centre is in need of a new van as providing transportation for their disabled students is one of their most crucial services.
This is because parents of these children, most of whom are low-income earners, find it difficult to send them to the centre. Using public transport is not a viable option.
Centre chairman Elahe Norman said: “The nearest bus stop to the centre is about half an hour’s walk away. So, it is important that we provide transportation to pick up the children from their homes and send them back.”
The centre is one of five beneficiaries of the Wild Zebra epic dance drama, an event to raise funds for five charity organisations.
Staff at the centre, located in Ampang Hilir, run various programmes to help the 52 children at the centre address their physical and learning disabilities.
“We have a 14-year-old van that needs to be replaced as it goes to the workshop more often than it makes the rounds to pick up the children.”
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SHELTERED LIVES: Children enjoying their art class at one of the Shelter centres, which help the young ones overcome trauma and neglect by providing them a safe home environment.
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Apart from a new van, the centre also needs foodstuff, detergent, equipment and office items.
Tasputra Perkim is Malaysia’s first Muslim day-care centre for physically, visually and mentally disabled children from low-income families.
The centre depends on public donations, and revenue from its fund-raising activities.
Another beneficiary of Wild Zebra is Shelter Home, which runs five homes for abused, abandoned, neglected or at risk children and teenagers.
It is facing a daunting task of raising enough funds for its homes. It costs up to RM50,000 alone to run Shelter One, a home for children aged between four and 12.
Shelter public relations officer Mary Vergis said: “Our most urgent need now is for teachers to tutor the children as they are not coping well in school.”
The home usually relies on volunteers to tutor the children but sometimes, tutors need to be hired when volunteers leave.
Shelter One is also seeking a drum set to provide the children an opportunity to develop their musical skills.
“We also hope that someone can sponsor the Astro subscription for the Learning Channel for Shelter Once. A satellite dish and decoder have been donated to us,” said Vergis.
Shelter Home, the Malaysian winner of the inaugural 2004 Asia-Pacific NGO Awards, also provides family-based counselling, play therapy and community services with the aim of enabling disadvantaged children to have a better future.
Proceeds from ticket sales of Wild Zebra will go to the Salvation Army, Perkim, the Paediatric Institute of Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Bethany Home and Petaling Jaya Shelter Home.
Presented by The Star and Artistry by Amway, and supported by the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry, Wild Zebra will be performed at the Istana Budaya from tomorrow to Aug 3.
Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2005/07/29/vehicle-for-perkims-disabled-kids/