A Visit To The Home

The State Young Lawyers Committee Members comprises of Mr. Desmond Ho, Cik Zairin, Mr. Tangaraj and I, together with the Chair for the Charity Committee of the Malacca Bar, Encik Nizam Bashir were at the Pusat Kanak-kanak Terencat Akal Bahagia on Friday after work. We were there to meet Roy and Nancy, the caregivers as the Committee has nominated this Home to be adopted for our Charity Nite on 29th June 2007. Desmond Ho, our Chairman took the photos so as to later show in our Nite the Home that we will be adopting.

We reached the Home at about 6.15pm and was greeted by a young boy aged 11 who has down syndrome with a hole in his heart. We were told by the care giver, Miss Nancy that the doctor has given him ultimatum at that time that he has about three years to live, but thanks to the Home he now prove the doctor wrong as that ultimatum came almost 7 years ago.

The Home was founded by husband and wife, Roy and Nancy Collar with the help of 10 other care givers. Started in July 2000 in a small single storey bungalow, the Home now housed 35 inmates ranges from the age of 4 to 32. A great number of the inmates are blind and had epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Some are bed ridden and mentally retarded. There are two who would have to be tubed fed. Only four were down syndrome and only Nor Laili, 17 years old understood us even though she has low IQ and is physically deformed.

The Home accepts all children without setting any conditions nor receiving any monthly income at all. The children are brought to the Home with no obligation to pay for their up keep.

We were also told that most of the children was abandoned by their family members as some were single mothers either raped or had incestuous relationship. Sad, but it's real and is happening. We were moved in our emotions seeing the children in their physical condition. The children are seen well taken care regardless of their race and religion. There were no unwanted smells and that all the children are in diaper and are well taken care of 24 hours a day and requires special nursing care and attention.

The monthly expenses of the Home comes to about RM21,753.00 on the average. The monthly budget increased over the years as essentials such as food and household items gone up over the years and fortunately help comes not from the government sector BUT from the private individuals and temples around Malacca, Seremban and Muar. It is disheartening to know that there are no special grants from the State and Federal Government especially through the ministry of Woman and Family Affairs. I call upon the government to do more for such Homes. As they require more help.

We have seen how the government spend money unnecessary, why not monies channel in such Homes and to the under privilege? I believe they need all the money for the fresh food, clothing, diaper, physiotherapist, medical treatment, first aids and a host of other necessaries. The government must come to it's senses to not spend in unnecessary mega projects.

These children are dear to God and are close to the heart of God. As such we should be eternally grateful for the things that we experienced and have. It is good that the many of us will come together and make their life a more better and comfortable place to live in.