The Star Online: Metro: Central
The Star Online: Metro: Central |
| Home’s founder stands tall after overcoming years of challenges Posted: 14 Feb 2013 04:46 AM PST A NOBLE act can go a long way, as it has in the case of 59-year-old S. Ritamalar. Deprived of family love after the sudden death of her husband and a family feud, Ritamalar, fondly known as Rita, decided to start a welfare home in 1994. It was no easy task, but she persevered. Today, Rita Handicapped and Disabled Welfare Home, located in Kapar, Klang, proudly stands as the first welfare home in the country to be awarded ISO 9001 certification for its excellent financial management and operations. The home has also been recognised by the Malaysia Guiness Book of Records for achieving ISO standards. In addition, it has been recognised by the Welfare Department as a model welfare home. Besides caring for 150 people, out of which 125 are children, the home also runs several socioeconomic programmes to reduce its financial burden and encourage self-sufficiency among its residents. The home's achievements has even taken its founder by surprise. Rita said she was finally feeling satisfied in life after struggling through numerous challenges over the past 19 years. The widow, who lost her husband just after a year of marriage at the age of 26, had to show true grit to get to where she is today. Rita, who is from Jenjarom in Kuala Langat, said she became disillusioned with life after losing her husband. During that time, she also could not get along with her family members and finally left home in search of a new life. Rita ended up at an old folk's home in Klang. "I worked at the home for 17 years and regarded the residents there as my own family. After some encouragement from my friends at the district Welfare Department, I started a home in Taman Mutiara, Kapar," she said. Rita added that she underwent many difficulties running the home, especially in terms of finance. She said it, however, gave her an opportunity to meet many like-minded individuals, one of them being L. Malaimaran, who is now the home's vice-president. Maran, as he is known, joined the home three years after it was established and has been its "strongest pillar" ever since. Rita said he had come to the home to find shelter for his disabled sister, but decided to team up with her on realising there was a role for him. "Maran has played a major role in getting the home to where it is today and everyone including the welfare officers, knows him for his commitment and dedication," she said,adding that Maran became a full-time worker at the home five years ago. From then on, Rita said the home grew from strength to strength. Before long, she was able to obtain a piece of land for the construction of a two-storey building. "Today, the children and adults are comfortable. They are given four meals daily, clothing, proper bedding and healthcare services. "All our children attend both school and tuition classes. They travel to school using the home's own transport," she said, adding that it owned two vans and a bus that was donated by the government. Rita said some of the children had become successful adults. "I did not expect things to come this far when I decided to start the home," she said, adding that more than 500 individuals had benefited over the years. Rita Home adviser P. Maheswaren said monthly overhead costs amounted to RM28,000, prompting them to venture into several socioeconomic projects to reduce the financial burden. He said the home had four projects running, namely a tailoring centre that takes orders for T-shirts and uniforms, a packaging workshop, producing soya bean to be sold at night markets and a recycling centre. "The projects do not only generate income for the home, but also for the residents involved as they are paid decent wages," he said. Maheswaran, a volunteer with the home for the past six years, said they had also introduced a meal programme that provided the opportunity for individuals or organisations to sponsor daily meals for the residents. He said all they had to do was contribute RM500 to the home while choosing a particular day to spend time with the residents. "They can pick any day, perhaps a birthday, wedding anniversary or the death anniversary of a loved one. We welcome them to the home on the day chosen, where they join the residents during their meal. "They are also free to organise activities for the residents," he said. Maheswaran said under the programme that started this year, 175 days had so far been booked. Through this, he hoped that the home's annual expenditure for food would be significantly covered. "We are also in need of funds to buy physiotherapy equipment and for the future expansion of the two-storey building," he added. Those with enquiries can call the home at 03-32591266, 017-2002966 (Rita) or 012-2776954 (Maran). |
| Posted: 14 Feb 2013 04:40 AM PST VOLUNTEER TRAINING The Africa Asia Destitute Relief Foundation (ADRF) Fifth Vol-unteerism Training will be held on Feb 23 at 20, Jln 20/18, Paramount Garden, Petaling Jaya, from 10.30am to 1pm. Registration is open and admission is free. There will also be a self-defence lesson by renowned NLP interventionist. For details and reservations, call 03-7865 3648 (Asya) 012-210 2404 (Dr Sharon). BUDDHIST BLESSING There will be a chanting and blessing ceremony held on Feb 15 from 9.30 am to 5pm, and on Feb 16 from 9.30am to 2pm at Chempaka Buddhist Lodge, Taman SEA, Petaling Jaya. There will be an opportunity to perform meritorious deeds of giving (dana) and to receive blessing from the Paritta Chanting. For details, call 03-78803936 or email info@chempaka.org.my. GREEN RACE Pertubuhan Pelindungan Khazanah Alam (Peka) is organising a 10km race named "Save Our Rainforest Race". The race is on March 2 at Chamang Waterfall in Bentong, Pahang. Participants must form teams of two and register online at www.pekamalaysia.org with a fee of RM80 per person. For details, call 017-318 2733 (Jules) or 012-356 4717 (Sara). FOOD NEEDED Take part in the "Some Of Us — S.O.S" charity campaign and donate food items for Jumble Station at LG2 of Sunway Pyramid until Feb 24. Items needed are instant noodles, instant beverages, oats, milk powder, crackers, biscuits, cooking oil, salt, sugar, pasta and canned food. For details, call 03-7494 3035. MAINTENANCE WORKS The KL-Kuala Selangor Express-way (Latar Expressway) will undertake maintenance and remedial works until May 2. Road users are advised to follow traffic signage along the affected stretch. For details, call 03-6145 1515 or visit www.latar.com.my TOASTMASTERS MEET The Women Institute of Man-agement (WIM Toastmasters Club) is having its 13th meeting for the term at Wisma WIM, Taman Tun Dr Ismail on Feb 26, 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Admission is free. To register, call 03-7725 0268 (Jaya) 012-210 2404 (Sharon). DODGEBALL SESSIONS The YMCA of Kuala Lumpur will be conducting free dodgeball sessions with the help of experienced coaches every Wednesday at the YMCA volleyball court from 8pm until 11pm. It is open to the public. For more information, call 03-22741439. BLOOD DONATION Kelana Jaya Medical Centre in collaboration with the National Blood Bank, is organising a blood donation drive at its premises on Feb 16 from 9am to 12.30pm. For details, call 03-7805 2111. |
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