Yayasan Sime Darby Brings Festive Cheer To Residents Of Welfare Home

Each of the 80 residents, aged between one and 57 years old, received a set of new clothes, shoes and ‘duit raya’.
YSD Chief Executive Officer Yatela Zainal Abidin, in presenting the goodies to the special needs children, said that this was in line with the foundation’s commitment to improving the lives of those in need.

“As Malaysians, we are very fortunate in that we never have to worry about whether we have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. However, sometimes we forget that not everyone is as privileged. YSD’s efforts today is our way of saying that we remember and we care about the plight of our less-fortunate fellow citizens,” she said.

The PKKI is a day training centre for the disabled which also provides early intervention programme for children aged one to five, a day training programme for residents aged 14 to 24 years old and an employment training programme for adults. Many of the children come from poor or single-parent families

The presentation of goodies to the home were carried out under YSD’s ‘Sinar Harapan’ Project, which is aimed at providing direct assistance to selected charitable homes. The name Sinar Harapan was chosen to depict a ray of hope and happiness that YSD may bring to the welfare homes.

Sinar Harapan is YSD's first big programme to assist underprivileged communities with their various critical needs. This programme fulfils the requirements of YSD's Community Development pillar where YSD will direct its attention to promote the well-being of disadvantaged people, irrespective of race, culture, religion, creed and gender.

YSD’s has committed RM650,000 towards the programme.

“In having a flagship programme such as this, YSD will be able to play a more proactive part in providing assistance to the underprivileged,” added Yatela.

The residents and staff of the home, which operates as a day centre for disabled children, were later treated to a sumptuous lunch sponsored by YSD.

In addition to PKKI Kajang, YSD also recently visited and presented goodies to 241 residents of four other homes in Selangor, namely Persatuan Penjagaan Kanak-kanak Cacat Klang, Persatuan Kebajikan Kanak-kanak Kajang, Persatuan Rumah Warga Emas Klang and Persatuan Jagaan Orang Kurang Upaya dan Terbiar Lovely Petaling Jaya.

The previous Sinar Harapan programme was carried out during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive season where ten charity homes, comprising 414 residents, in the Klang Valley were selected to receive assistance. YSD also organised buka puasa events at the homes in addition to presenting duit raya, clothes, shoes and books to the homes' residents.

Under the programme, YSD plans to adopt selected homes and provides them with a sustainable livelihood through direct assistance, empowerment and/or skills, helping them to live better lives.