KUCHING: While most of the Chinese community here prepare to welcome the Year of the Rat, some remain generous and caring by providing for the needy during this festive season.
For Poh Sze Lyn, and her friends, the celebration is an opportunity for them to give and share with the underprivileged.
Poh and her group of friends donated more than RM2,000 worth of CNY (Chinese New Year) goodies to Hope Place, a local NGO here.
Their contributions have made a difference in many needy families including young children’s lives, as it extended to a learning centre, Anak-Anak D’Wira Care Centre, where the children come from poor families.
Hope Place has been helping the learning centre since 2014, by providing them with nutritious breakfast and healthy snacks during the students’ break time.
Besides that, most of the centre’s supplies are sponsored and donated by members of the public. For example, the two vans which they use to transport students who have no transport.
However, the centre still lacks in other ways such as classroom equipments, books and stationery.
D’Wira currently has about 80 students, aged four to 17, and learning basic subjects like Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mathematics.
The centre accepts children from poor families who are not able to afford normal school. Half of the students also do not have Malaysian identity cards as it is most likely that one of their parents is a foreigner, thus no marriage certificate.
Hope Place would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to all donors for supporting and caring for the underprivileged and wish everyone a prosperous new year ahead and continues to welcome CNY donations from members of the public who wishes to contribute during this festive season.
For more information, Persatuan Kebajikan Harapan Kuching (PKHK) can be reached at 082-505987. Opening hours are from 8.30am to 5.30pm from weekdays and 8.30am to 12.30pm on Saturdays. All donations are welcome and receipts will be given upon request.
