GEORGE TOWN – They are not part of a non-governmental organisation, nor are they registered as a society; they are just four friends looking to reach out to as many children as possible to make a difference for tomorrow.
It started when lawyer Gerald Mak had an idea to pull together funds to aid trishaw riders in Penang at the start of the pandemic in April last year.
Within days, Penang Women Chamber of Commerce president Datuk Annie Chin, global investor Kevin Lee Lean Chye, and real estate negotiator Tan Chen Tat were roped in to be part of what they thought was an ad-hoc team to provide aid to those in need during the early stages of the movement control order (MCO).
However, it did not stop there – as they saw that there were more needs to be met.
For the next few months, the four friends – together with 20 to 30 generous contributors – raised money to buy food from hawkers, which was then channelled to children’s homes.
We decided that we should help hawker stall owners whose businesses have been affected because of the MCO, and with the food that we buy, we send to children’s homes.
“We also bought mattresses, groceries, and even gave haircuts to children.
“When it comes to providing aid, we get the exact number of food packets or items needed before we make orders because we do not want any wastage, and we want to be sure that what we give is really what they need at the moment,” he told The Vibes.
Mak said their current focus is on providing opportunities to less fortunate children to live a fuller life.
Some children in orphanages are not actually orphans, but had to be sent there because their single parents could not afford to raise them.
To enrich their lives this holiday season, the group worked with Hompton Hotel Penang to organise a Christmas buffet lunch for kids from the Crystal Family Home and Peace Children Care Centre. They were given gifts to bring home as well.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow’s wife, Tan Lean Kee, was present as a guest of honour.
Mak noted these children had never been to hotels, let alone dined in one, and expressed his thanks to the hotel for sponsoring the meals and venue.
Moving forward, the quartet is looking to sponsor opportunities for these children to learn life skills.
On the top of their list is enrolling them for self-defence classes, engaging instructors who had lost their jobs during the MCO.
“We hear of many bullying cases in schools, and I think it is very important that they can defend themselves. If they enjoy these classes, we can look for provisions for them to take advanced classes.
“I feel it is better than giving them toys because these skills will help them for a lifetime. I know of a girl from the Children’s Protection Society who grew up to be a doctor.
“These children, they are the leaders of tomorrow, and we feel it is our duty to at least provide them with opportunities to learn (certain) skills so that they may excel and have a bright future,” he said. – The Vibes, December 20, 2021
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