World Vision Malaysia : Our Official Blog

Sharing of Love

16 March 2010 at 11:54 am

Ames and Shew Leng share their reason for going bald together as husband and wife, in support of Operation Botak.

Here’s their two cents worth:

Both of us grew up seeing our parents work hard just to make ends meet. Although they were struggling financially, they always tried their best to provide us with the access to an education.

We are now successful professionals and we sincerely hope this small act will help the indigenous community to be more knowledgeable and that it helps improve their standard of living.

We also hope to be the role models to our children, for them to grow up always helping people in need.

Over half of Sabah’s population is scattered amongst isolated rural areas. World Vision hopes to raise RM100, 000 to help provide indigenous communities in the interiors of Tuaran and Kota Belud with the gift of education and literacy by equipping a mobile library and learning resource centre.

There will be an official hair-shaving-session, of the 50 people who have pledged to go bald on 28 March 2010 at Fashion Court, The Curve, Mutiara Damansara from 2 - 4pm. Click here to learn more about Operation Botak.

爲什麽是光頭？

11 March 2010 at 9:23 am

By Nai Seow Hong

《一髮千金》，是遠在臺灣念書的同學幫我們這個活動命名。一頭頭髮，真的能值千金嗎？我相信聚沙成塔的力量。

爲什麽是剃光頭籌款呢？

反對聲連連，但是只要有一個人贊成、一個人呈交計劃書、一個人帶頭、一個人點頭、一個人答應，那麽就是穩重如山的毅力了。
接下來，就是厚著臉皮，向身邊的人籌款。

是爲了創意？出風頭？搞特別？還是……？有人說，捐款是出自于真心，不是爲了要看我落髮。

對，我不是個名人，更不是個藝人。我的頭髮能值多少錢？爲什麽要提議剃光頭？

近年來天災的肆虐叫人人心惶惶。生活在地球村的我們，常常被報章的頭條、新聞中觸目驚心的照片、報導等等，無時無刻都在提醒，這個地球的怒吼。遠在它方的我們，唯一能做的就是呼籲籌款，有錢出錢希望能讓災黎儘快脫離苦海。一旦災難的發生，人們當下即刻做出最快速的回應！然而，生活在貧困綫上的人們所面對的問題，每一天依然在發生。

再窮不能窮教育是我在九七年加入下鄉團所學到的一句話。當人們進行著緊急救援的籌款當兒，這邊，我們本地的教育，更是不能被忽略。《希望之禮》其中一項最貴重的禮物，是帶給Sabah Tuaran 和Kota Belud孩子的流動學習中心，RM100,000的款項似乎停滯不前。於是，當務之急必須要以獨特又能吸引大家的方式共同為這一項教育資源籌款。

教育，是能改變一生的途徑之一。我們當然無法確保每一位孩子都能成爲成功人士，但起碼能為他們在基礎上打穩。一台能在偏遠山區流動的學習中心，像是一股清流，為教育資源缺乏的孩子們，帶來學習的一綫希望。

於是，我突發奇想這一個剃光頭籌款的行動，希望能儘快籌得款項。這，回答了你們的疑問嗎？

那會很丑，很多朋友說。媽媽告訴我，頭髮會長出來呀！所以啊，別擔心別人怎麽說。

朋友的捐款意外的從四面八方而來，不二話。有朋友幽默地說，擔心我不受歡迎所以必須有所行動。
我很感恩，尤其遠自臺灣中國的捐款。我很驚喜，好朋友的聚餐，帶給我的意外善款。更有我認識或不認識來自各方表示支持我的朋友！還有願意陪我一起剃頭的志工們！更多更多無法言喻的感動。

我向媽媽報告，今天我獲得朋友們的捐款呢！媽媽突然沉默，我問她是不是很疲倦啦？她說：很感恩啊，這麽多有心人。

嗯，我也很感動。雖然目前距離目標還有百分之八十多，但是無論大家的捐款是多少，對我來說都幸福漫溢了。

謝謝大家。

你願意支持我嗎？
歡迎瀏覽：http://worldvision.com.my/?option=com_content&task=view&id=126&Itemid=42
或參與其盛！2010年3月28日，下午2時，The Curve。

淑儀，我的戰友。我們一起為《一髮千金》努力！

Why am I going Bald?

9 March 2010 at 10:30 am

by Shu Yi, Communications

Ever since university days, I remember conversations with good friends who would talk about wanting to raise funds and give back to society. And one of the means to raise funds would be to go bald.

That dream tapered out and and eventually my friends left university too. The idea got pushed right to the back of my head and gradually faded away with life’s busyness.

Going bald.

Reminds me of the tragic movie Water.

Chuyia, the little girl in the story is forced to go bald and to live with a group of widows as her elderly husband passed away. And due to her ill-fated circumstances, she was shunned from society cause of her status.

Check it out, it talks bout issues (which perhaps are not so prevalent here) bout a woman’s role in society and her lack of freedom to choose life.

Going bald seems like such a radical act.

Some people find it distasteful especially if a female goes bald, as it is seen as completely striping a female of her femininity.

I knew the moment the idea was brought up, that I would do it. I would go bald and as long as it wasn’t for a frivolous reason, you could count me in.

As I talk to more people about going bald. I realised how much the external act of going bald showed my commitment and dedication towards the cause.

Am I scared bout losing my hair? Of course I am =) But I also know by doing this, I give a chance to the children in Kota Belud and Tuaran, Sabah a chance at an education, they deserve this chance.

On a related note, would anyone out there know where I can donate my long hair to? Does the National Cancer Society accept natural, non-dyed hair for wig-making? Or is there a wig shop that would buy my hair, if I sold it to them? I would be keen to donate the proceeds to Operation Botak. Do email me at tan_shu_yi@wvi.org, if you have answers to these questions =)

Thank you for your immense support for Operation Botak!

Day 2 – Getting adjusted

25 February 2010 at 8:16 pm

By Danell Lee

School Visit

World vision has help the primary school to level the ground, build a water pump, construct a wall for safety and security and most importantly provided school materials, food and nutrition for the children.

So that they can have place to train, especially in sports. And I felt so proud to know that, they have always been the champion among the 42 schools in the area of sports.

They performed dances for us, and it was a joy to see them sing for us, we really enjoyed that.

The tragedy of HIV/AIDS

Just about a week ago, World Vision got to know of this 20-year old young man, taking care of his family of six = the grandpa, grandma, mother, 2 sisters and himself. The father committed suicide over the pressures of being HIV-positive and couldn’t handle the burden of taking care of the family. The mother who is also HIV-positive, is quite ill.

The family lives in 2 simple huts next to a railway station.

And all the while, this young man worked as a hard laborer on a farm.

Right now, the situation is still not so good, but World Vision has just started to help them as they are able.

In a month’s time, World Vision will help him to open a sundry store next to the railway station. And will help to take care of his mother and the grandparents’ health, and as a first step, see that the sisters get an education.

And we feel that, at least everything will be okay for them.

Light at the end of a Tunnel

At the end of the day, we met Rehenna. She was a World Vision sponsored child for the last 13 years.

She came from a poor family, but with the help of World Vision, she was able to continue her studies, and now able to pursue her Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in Logistic.

We are thankful that World Vision Child Sponsors have given these children hope and success.

Conclusion of Day 2

Today, we have seen some very difficult stories, we see little children with so much energy, passion and hopes, we saw a family struggling to survive with the basics of healthcare and living in dire poverty, and we also saw a very successful child that has been blessed by World Vision.

Day 1 in India - Understanding the Situation

24 February 2010 at 6:11 pm

By Danell Lee

Day 1

Slums in Vijayawada

We’re now visiting a slum area in Vijayawada, near the Krishna River. In the slum we could see families having this own small space of home, while the ladies are washing clothes in the river and drying it directly on the ground.

Story of Heartbreak

Jaya*’s husband is a lorry driver that always travels for work and lives away from his family for a few months at a time. And he is HIV-positive, so the wife was also infected.

From her expressions, we could feel that she was very depressed about this matter. Before they got married, her family was proud of him and considered him a good man to marry, but when things changed, everyone held her responsible for marrying him. She was very upset at first, but had to just face it.

Well we are glad that she looks healthy and cheerful. But she’s worried about her daughter who is now only 1 and a half years old. She’s worried of one day needing to leave this world, and who will take care of her daughter?

Saree Seller

When we asked her about her dream, she meekly says that she couldn’t afford to dream for herself, but she wishes that her brother and sister be good and study well. And maybe one day she can own her own sewing machine.

Well, we are very glad for them, and wish that they could always stay happy together.

Outskirts

A 10-year old boy Raja* who is HIV-positive lives as an orphan. His parents passed away when he was very young. The father passed away when he was 3 months old, and the mother when he was 3 years old. Right now he’s taken care by his elder sister and grandma.

We’re not sure how much he knows about HIV, but he knows that he is different from other children. However, his friends and people around him treat him as a normal child.

And when he grows up, he speaks of wanting to to be a policeman, cause he wants to help people. While the grandma just hope that he studies hard and is able to get a job that doesn’t involve hazardous work, so that he doesn’t need to work so hard.

Conclusion

After visiting these families, I actually think that they might not live in dire poverty, but being HIV-positive and losing family members has given them a very hard time.

But we are glad that they are strong enough to face it.

And thru World Vision, they are at least taken care, and educated about healthcare, especially HIV/AIDS.

*all names have been changed to protect the identity of these people.

Danell’s First Foray into India

22 February 2010 at 12:19 pm

by Danell Lee

Landing in the Land of Hyderabad, India

It’s 1am in the morning, 20°C, we are on our way from the airport to the city of Hyderabad.

Other than the presence of a lil’ bit more Indians, and the Hindi signboards, It doesn’t feel like I’m actually in India. Maybe they speak the English we normally hear from any of our Indian friends in Malaysia. And the Hyderabad airport is not very much different from KLIA.

Riding World Vision’s jeep into the city, it just feels like the Malaysia I know. Two lane highways, drivers driving on the left hand side, orange coloured street lights, trucks on the road, shop houses like that in Changlun…

But now further from the airport, the road becomes a lil’ more bumpy.

Still Don’t Know What to Expect

Along the way, from this very small airport to the hotel, this small corner of Hyderabad city seems to be quite developed. They actually have a very big rice field, while further away, they have this very beautiful hotel that we are staying in, ice-cream shops, branded jeans stores, cars showrooms…

So I still cannot imagine, how’s the village that we are visiting gonna be like?

Finally Vijayawada

With the Kingfisher turboprop, we finally land in Vijayawada a very cute town in India, with a small airport. This place is so beautiful, with plots of big rice fields.

Do check out Danell’s India journey through the entire week of  22 February 2010.

６天的印度之旅 (6 Days in India)

18 February 2010 at 4:51 pm

Check out this space as we bring to you Danell 李桀汉’s diary through World Vision’s work in India.

６天的印度之旅

从来没想过自己有机会，可以到印度去，所以我真的真的不知该有什么心理准备，也很不确定这一次以世界宣明会的代表，能够为他们做些什么。

不过在印度的6天，真的让我大开眼界，学到很多东西，而且我想，我会很想念这里的咖喱，繁忙的交通，这里的小朋友，我们探访的家庭，还有大马团的每一位。

我了解到贫穷固然是影响他们很大的因素，但更糟的是HIV在印度已经传染到很严重的地步了。所以很多贫穷的家庭都是因为健康的关系，无法好好工作，甚至很多都因为家长重病而逝世，小孩的未来就这样给毁了。很多都是因为HIV关系，影响了他们的经济能力，也影响了小孩的学业。

不过感到高兴的是，印度有很多社区都受到世界宣明会的照顾和帮助。他们的医务、药剂、学业、经济，及人民们的心理建设都有受到关怀，希望这样可以减低他们的贫穷率，及减少HIV的数量，同时也提高人民对HIV的了解，希望那些无辜的病患者都受到一样的待遇。

在此，我很希望各位幸运的朋友们，可以跟我们一起和世界宣明会联手帮助这些朋友们。

敬之,

李桀汉

6 Days in India

I’ve never thought that I would, or ever have a chance to go to India in my life. So I really didn’t know what to expect in this trip. And I was quite unsure on what I could actually do as me or as a part of World Vision.

But everything’s seems to be great and cool, I thought it was fun and I learned a lot. I’m gonna miss the curry, the crazy traffic, the children and families that we met, and everybody from Malaysia in our trip.

And thru the trip, I learned that poverty might be an issue for the people, but the toughest thing to see is people living with HIV, as it’s a serious issue in India. Some of these people lose their health, some lose their loved ones, and it just changes their future somehow. A lot of them suffer because of HIV, then it affects their financial support and also children’s education…

Thankfully World Vision has helped this community a lot, in terms of healthcare, medication, education, financial and social supports, to decrease the number of HIV and poverty. And to increase the awareness about HIV, at least everybody understands that the innocent people who are infected should have the same treatment.

So we really hope all of us who are more blessed, can give a hand to World Vision, to help these people.

Love,

Danell

One month on, Haiti’s homeless ask for protection against theft and insecurity

12 February 2010 at 4:03 pm

12 February, Port-au-Prince – Haiti’s homeless are in need of protection and shelter says humanitarian agency World Vision after a new survey finds that more than half of respondents said they are living in exposed shelter and reported security concerns, including fear of robbery and rape.

As part of an assessment of need across Port-au-Prince, World Vision asked men and women living in spontaneous settlements, expansive camps and in tents outside their homes about their protection, security and safety concerns.

A fifth of households surveyed said they are at risk of robbery, one in ten were afraid of “evil forces”, while others said they were scared of rape or felt generally insecure. More than one in ten households said they lacked protection or security from authorities.

“World Vision calls on the UN to work with the Government of Haiti to draw up crime-prevention strategies that provide much-needed protection to vulnerable people living in very difficult conditions,” said World Vision’s Humanitarian Protection Specialist Patrick Sooma. “Any planning must also make sure camps are well-lit and that communities have warning tools such as whistles and mobile phones.

“One camp we spoke to has resorted to providing their own security,” said Sooma. “Others said they feel incredibly unsafe as they effectively sleep on the street, exposed to theft, violence and attack. Some respondents asked for protective fencing around camps, even more asked for police protection.”

World Vision is calling for security information to be coordinated and shared between Government authorities, US military and UN peacekeepers but most importantly with communities themselves. During this period of acute vulnerability, protection forces must maintain high visibility throughout the city to protect people against potential crime.

The agency spoke to respondents from 154 households representing 1,331 people in 17 sites across the capital in February.

“Those we spoke to recognised children are in particular need of protection,” said Sooma. “We are deeply concerned for children separated from their parents. Especially as many temporary shelters are constructed on roundabouts, on busy roads or made of cotton sheets, without any kind of closed entrance.”

“Shelter is the utmost priority for people now in Haiti, not just in advance of the coming rains, but to provide privacy and some additional security,” he said.

Community representatives in just six camps said they knew of more than 900 children who are separated from both of their parents.

To help protect and care for children in camps, World Vision has established safe places for children to play and learn in six camps across the capital and will open 16 more in the coming weeks. The agency is also distributing shelter supplies to thousands of people in camps and has helped half a million people with food and other emergency relief.

Facts from the ground:

1. Of the 154 households consulted, 114 were in sizeable camps, 36 households were living outside their own homes and 10 households were in spontaneous camps.
2. Overall, the households contained 632 children, including 167 under 5 and 939 reported separated children.
3. There was an average of nine people per household, ranging from 1 to 40 members.
4. Seventy-five households out of 154 said children were the most vulnerable in their community. Reasons for vulnerability include: insecurity, “evil forces”, infection and sickness, rain, mist, sleeping outside in the wet, alone, separated from parents, children cannot run when people are fighting, sleeping in the streets or in bad conditions, living with injuries or disabilities, vulnerable to abduction.
5. Fifty-three percent or 77 households surveyed said they have protection or security concerns.
6. Thirty-five households said they were concerned about robbery
7. Fourteen households said they were afraid of “evil forces”.
8. Five households said they feared threat of rape
9. Six households spoke of general fear
10. Eleven households said they had no fears or have organised their own security, or are protected by authorised security.

China: Quilts rushed to blizzard-affected children

10 February 2010 at 2:31 pm

By Echo Chow, World Vision China Senior Communications Officer

Immediately after an assessment by World Vision in late January, 2,000 quilts are on their way to reach Chinese children and their families living in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, who have been hit by the worst blizzard in six decades.

“World Vision also participated in the relief operation of the 2001 snowstorm in Altay. But what we see the situation in Altay here now is even worse,” Louise Chau, a member of World Vision’s assessment team, who has just been back from an assessment visit in Qinghe county and Fuyun county of Altay from 23-28 January, said.

Altay means “place with half year of winter, half year of summer” in local language and winter in Altay normally ends in April. Therefore, a sufficient stock of food, clothing and fodder is critical for local community.

“The snow is so thick that it reaches the level of an adult’s knees, waist or even taller than an adult in some areas. It takes us 20 minutes to complete a journey of only 50 metres, so you can imagine how difficult for us to reach the villagers. In some areas, there are still places inaccessible because many vehicles were stuck in heavy snow. Delivering relief materials is definitely a challenge for us,” continued Louise referring to the many vehicles stuck in the snow.

In Qinghe county alone, the winter this year stands at a temperature of around –28 to –25. “There is not enough food and coal. The vegetable sheds were damaged by the grim weather. The price for vegetable keeps going up that we can’t afford to eat it for a long time. This winter is so hard for us.” Rezhake, a local villager told World Vision in a home visit.

The disaster has claimed at least 20 lives, and left 1,304 people injured. More than 1.5 million people were affected, of whom more than 160,000 have been evacuated, according to the regional Department of Civil Affairs. In addition, over 30,000 houses were ruined and collapsed. Direct economic loss was estimated at RM 323 million (USD 94 million).

World Vision Malaysia supports an Area Development Programme (ADP) in Hotan, Xinjiang. The Child Sponsorship Programme there is not heavily affected by the serious blizzard, there are also no reports of injured children.

Mrs Ornanong and Richard Supat - lives that inspired me

3 February 2010 at 5:00 pm

by Joanne Tay, Communications

Last month, I had the privilege of meeting two former World Vision sponsored children from Thailand and The Philippines, who were in town to offer their voices and share their lives with the Malaysian public. And because of my job scope, I had the honor of sitting through their interviews with the media. With that, I try my best now to share with you their stories. Simple yet powerful stories, of how lives were transformed. Stories of hopes that became realities. Stories that made a person pay attention to listen, not because one has to but because one is attracted to.

Once in a while, we meet people who inspire us, who made us believe in the goodness of humanity again. Such were the sweet encounters with Mrs Ornanong Panyawang Awakul, from Thailand and Mr Richard Supat, from The Philippines. One was a former Ms Thailand 1992, who is now a well known actress, TV host and a celebrity in her home country. The other, holds a degree in Mass Communications and an MBA, spearheading the Human Resources Department of a location-based services in his home country. Neither of them ever thought that their lives would take such a turn.

Richard Supat today

Both were born into a poor family, struggling to survive on daily basis. Richard’s parents were working in a peanut butter factory, depending on daily wages. Richard, who grew up in the ’shanti’ (slums) area of Metro Manila known as the ’sin city’, got emotional when speaking to The Star journalist, reminded that sometimes he only had rice with salt. Life took a gradual turn after he got selected into World Vision’s Child Sponsorship programme, teaching him values beyond classroom education - learning to be thankful and to be a good steward of what has been given. I believe lessons like these are the ones that shape a person’s world views. Richard eludes a quiet yet friendly persona and his humility amazed me when we met. When he sang “You Raised Me Up” at our This Is My World Vision Campaign launch, each word came alive from a soul who truly understood the lyrics. I must say, some of the audience present were at the verge of tears.

Richard (top) in his younger days and his sponsors (from USA and later, Germany)

In his interview with BFM 89.9 BFM 89.9, Richard said “Never in my entire life, I would imagine that someone I don’t know would help me. So that is a big responsibility and that has taught me to love other people who you do not know and just be there for them.” This is the beauty of the World Vision Child Sponsorship programme, it not just about a programme or the donation of RM50 per month but more than that, it is a journey together - the sponsor and the sponsored child.

Mrs Ornanong today

Mrs Ornanong, was always pleasant and one of the most down to earth celebrity I’ve met. She was always polite, even when speaking through an interpreter and there was a certain radiance about her smile. This was a child who came from a family of 7 siblings and her father was a construction worker by day and a tricylce taxi peddler by night, relying on daily wages. Her mother was a factory worker and sold fruits in the market. Growing up, she taught she would turn out to be a fruit vendor like her mom.

Mrs Ornanong then

World Vision came to the school she was studying one day and identified the poorest families, offering if they would like to be a part of its Child Sponsorship programme. The rest, as they say, is history for her. She kept her grades at school and eventually learned the traditional Thai dance, which contributed to her winning the title of Ms Thailand in 1992. She made public her background of poverty and that she was a sponsored child to the media upon winning the crown, believing that one should not be ashamed but instead, be grateful of how much her life has been changed because of the generosity of others. Today, she sponsors 6 children with her husband, saying that she can relate to them because she was once in their shoes. This is her way of encouraging the sponsored children that they must not give up on their dreams.

“World Vision is like a boat, it collects people on-board along the way and bring them to their destination”, she said through her translator to New Tide magazine journalist. Will you join us in this journey? Thank You, Mrs Ornanong and Richard, for being such amazing living testimonies.

I am writing this entry, not because its part of my job as a staff but because I truly believe in the work World Vision does. I hope you too, can believe in us to Build A Better World For Children. You can be that person for someone else too.