JAMES Nayagam, social activist and founder of Shelter Homes and Suriana Welfare Society, did not have an easy life growing up. Faced with many challenges, both economically and socially, he overcame them. He vowed to help others with the same problems as he had experienced. And he did.
Today, with more than 40 years' experience reaching out to single mothers, stateless children, teenagers with drug abuse, parents with alcoholism, victims of domestic violence, homeless individuals and families, and registration of the disabled persons (OKU), Nayagam has helped those who are most in need.
Many who reach out to him are housed either in low-cost housing, or Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) flats and exposed to cramped and squalid conditions. There is no respite for daily wage earners who are more worried about where their next meal is going to come from.
“Most of these families were located in squatter settlements, mostly wooden and haphazardly built. Later on, the government moved them to concrete high-rise buildings such as the PPR flats. Here 30,000 families live in 12 blocks, 600 sq ft in size, with small living areas and each unit is occupied by six to 10 family members.
“So, the lifestyle remains the same for these families. Poverty is still the main issue – together with dysfunctional families. And when both are combined, there is gangsterism, drug addiction, alcoholism and domestic violence. There is also suicide, which does occur when there is a complete breakdown," said Nayagam.
"So, some form of intervention is needed to help them. Especially to protect children, who fall prey to seasoned criminals and become victims of circumstances. There are 12-year-olds handling drugs, getting involved in gangsterism.
"Going to school is a challenge for them. They don’t see a future for themselves in school due to their living conditions.
"Truancy itself is not a crime but what they do outside of school becomes a crime. They build relationships with older children and make quick money committing crimes. So, it became my mission to provide opportunities for these families and children. And to protect them against social issues, give them a future they can look forward to, and to also maintain and protect family unity against violence.
"Wherever possible, we provide aid so they can cope with poverty. But, the game-changer was the setting up of a Play & Learn Centre (P&L) within the heart of the PPR flats. So there is a sanctuary for the children, aged between six to 12 years, to learn English, Moral Studies and even Health Science.
"So far, 50 children are registered at the centre. There is a waiting list but we don’t have the space to accommodate all the children,” said Nayagam.
There are full- and part-time staff as well as volunteers at the centre.
“The leaders of the community form the committee at the P&L Centre, including the penghulu as well as other key persons of the community. They take ownership of the P&L Centre. On Saturdays, there is poetry and even singing. This results in a more balanced form of education."
Nayagam added that based on feedback from parents, the children have developed morally and exhibited more respect towards their parents. This programme has thus proven successful in many ways and he hopes it can be replicated in other blocks within the same locality. Funding was a problem and they had to depend on sponsors and other members of the public.
Among the many beneficiaries was Fauziah Mazlan, whose autistic daughter was registered by the Suriana Welfare Society and who lives with her family at the PPR flats. She said the P&L Centre has changed the lives of the children positively.
She shared how the Suriana Welfare Society staff helped register her daughter, Nurul Nadia, 32, with the Social Welfare Department, entitling her to the OKU card. Today Nurul attends hospital when necessary and receives many benefits, such as free transport.
Nayagam, who has extensively intervened in many cases at the PPR flats said: “There is little or no form of rehabilitation for the disabled children living in these PPR. Elishah (not her real name) is one such example, born deaf, blind and mute and up to 19 years had no OKU card. We assisted her to apply for one,” he added.
Kamsiah Mohamed has lived in the Desa Mentari flats for the past 15 years and is a staff member of the P&L Centre.
Also speaking in Bahasa Malaysia, she shared:
“This centre allows many of these young children to make the right kind of friends. Many stateless children otherwise have nowhere to go. Their family members are happy they have a safe place to go to and they can work in peace". Kamsiah looks out for the children in the neighbourhood and makes sure they don’t fall prey to “bad hats”.
Dr Janice Tan, human service director for the Centre, left the high-flying world of finance and marketing, where she served as vice-president to work in these communities. She provides counselling services for the children and families, sometimes in this pandemic era via Zoom.
“Well, I find this more satisfying to make a change and transform these children’s lives one by one, “ said Janice. – The Vibes, February 12, 2021
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