Sunday 12 October 2008

Is there anything you'd like to do to help? Visit Taman Sinar Harapan Kuala Kubu Bahru


One for the album

Beds are desperately needed in Taman Sinar Harapan

How are you, mama, this resident was greeting Mrs Chow, family of KC Yap, wife Timmy and mother in-law with their children at the background


Veon is giving out Pooh and Sponge Bob

This is the closest picture I can get looking inside the ward

Sheer happy faces


We spotted ants underneath the beds

Every efforts is worthwhile

Wards for the heavily mentally challenged residents

Villi is seen here giving out fish to Jasmine Chong. Looking on are brothers Yap Liang on the right and Yap Yang on the left who sponsored the fishes





Did you see the smile on their faces? Wonders of the Pooh and the fighting fish


Me, giving thank you note to all participants for their contributions

This is the famous artist (Mr Lam Kwai Fatt) using his toes to draw pictures and sell to the public to raise fund for the centre




Guess what, fighting fish...a sold out item in seconds


Toilet rolls are on the wanted list too...

My lovely relative made homebaked mooncake for them

Microwave could be useful to the kitchen

Hair cutter is even more useful, I thought

Blankets & diapers are the most wanted

Here comes the goodies

En. Azwan from Taman Sinar Harapan KKB giving us a welcome briefing

Taklimat ( Briefing time)

My fellow blogging friends, Ali and Lisa from MISC


Gifts that make all residents smile


Token of Appreciation sponsored by Villi and Vivian, my children

My right and left hands, Yap Yang and Amy, without them, this project will not be completed as smooth. Yap Yang even came down with mild fever and yet came along, bravo guys!


8 Cars pooled together

Young and old come together for a good cause

Group meet at the Rawang Toll


Came back from visiting Taman Sinar Harapan, Kuala Kubu Bahru, I was wrecked. Exhausted by the pass few days' hectic schedule of buying stuff and the recent bad weather fueled my adrenaline with constant prayers for a smooth day for today. Down pour came on our way home, I guess that was the best I could asked from God, the almighty. Guards down when we all arrived home safely.

Taman Sinar Harapan, word for word translation is = Garden of Sunshine and Hope.

I saw sunshine, and I saw pretty gardens. Flowers are blooming better than that in our yards at home. But I didn't see hope in most of the residents' eyes. 80% of them are bedridden and mildly mentally challenged except a few who are able to walk about at the centre's compound. Some of those sitting or even standing on the metal bed are tied with chain and padlocked on one of their ankles, as clothe lines or bandages are not effective to confine them. Their diapers are full with all you could imagine and ants were seen crawling around the beds.

Those residents who are more seriously mentally challenged are grouped in enclosed areas dividing between male and female. Their lives are so dependent on others including filling their stomach when hungry. Most of them are naked and sleeping on wet floors, some were seen with feces in between their legs. According to the Officer, En Azwan, their bodies do not respond to the living environment and therefore will not feel cold even in a cold night.

We were neither allowed to take any pictures nor video taping inside the dormitory (Asrama), I guess it is only fair. By now, you should have a grim picture in your mind. Let me ask you one question, feeling for those residents is obvious; But do you feel for the workers who are taking care of them?

My blog is to help create awareness to the world that there are unfortunate human beings born to this world with abnormality and living in solitude. They can't demand or ask for people to visit, because some couldn't speak, some couldn't see and some couldn't hear, but they can feel our touches and strokes and they do respond by way of giggles or laughters, you tell me, don't they have feelings? I wonder if they cry at night...

I AM ONLY ONE, BUT STILL I AM ONE. I CANNOT DO EVERYTHING, BUT STILL I CAN DO SOMETHING. AND BECAUSE I CANNOT DO EVERYTHING, I WILL NOT REFUSE TO DO SOMETHING THAT I CAN DO. ~ Helen Keller

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi! Jenny n Tai

On behalf of my mum and Veon n my son Hong, we like to thank both of you in organizing this visit.

it is indeed touching to see them smile n giggles...

Swiss Palma said...

You are welcome Yong Houng. All of you have a heart of Gold which we appreciate most.

Unknown said...

hi!great job on you all....fyi, we are going there as well....on this 22-24 april 2011 (message by lucas look - cmlucas@rocketmail.com)