A simple idea of making snowmen from socks, sharing the skill and raising funds has created more socially-conscious children, while benefiting the Grace Home in Klang.
PETALING JAYA: Proving that one is not too young to be socially aware and to learn some social entrepreneurial skills at the same time, a group of primary students paid a visit to a charity home in Klang, with the purpose of learning, sharing and raising funds.
It all started with one child, 11-year-old Isabelle Chan, who wanted to help raise funds for charity and put some creative effort in her quest.
In line with the Christmas theme, she created a “snowman” using white socks and some other material.
Once she had done that, the Primary Five student at SJK(C) Yuk Chai, here, with the help of her parents, gathered a group of fellow primary school students from other schools, all with the same goal – to learn a skill, raise funds and share their time with the underprivileged.
After having learnt how to make the “snowman” and selling them to family and friends to raise funds, a group of about 12 children headed for Grace Home in Pandamaran, Klang on Christmas eve, with their parents in tow.
They presented nearly RM3,000 that they had raised to the home, then they stayed to make more “snowmen” with the residents.
Swarnima holding one of the ‘snowmen’ she created with the help of a resident of Grace Home.
Swarnima Poddar, 8, said her desire to help those in need had been kindled since attending the “snowman” workshop, where she made six “snowmen”.
“I am glad I was able to help one of the aunties (Rumah Grace residents) to make the ‘snowman’,” said the Primary Two pupil from Beacon house Sri Inai International School.
“Sharing is all about caring. My resolution for 2017 is to share what I learnt at the workshop with my friends in school and everyone I know.”
Another girl, Chong Ray Shuen, 7, from Puay Chai 2 in Bandar Utama said that she felt it was a great personal achievement to be able to get family and friends to buy the “snowmen” which she made.
“I have learnt to overcome my fears after this charity fundraising activity,” she said.
Shaun Ng explaining to the residents how to make their own ‘snowmen’.
The highest fundraiser, 8-year-old Shaun Ng, also from Puay Chai 2, managed to raise about RM1,500 from the sale of his “snowmen”.
“I want to thank those who bought the snowmen from me, and I am also happy that all the money can go towards a good cause,” he said.
Isabelle summed it up, saying it is a simple idea that can be easily copied and used for other charitable fund raising projects involving young children to expose them early to social entrepreneurship.
Grace Home, or Rumah Grace, in Pandamaran, Klang is a home for destitute women. Currently, it has 28 women residents.
According to the home’s secretary Desmond Teo, the children’s efforts are indeed very encouraging.
“Our income has been on a downtrend for the past three years,” he said, adding that donations and other revenue sources to keep the home going had declined by 47% compared with last year.
“And it is bad when you consider that last year’s income was already down by 41% from the previous year (2014). But prices of everything keeps rising.
The children posing with the residents and the food that they managed to buy with the money raised.
“The cost of food items have also escalated. This is why we hope more donors will contribute to help us sustain the home,” Teo said.
Anyone wishing to help Grace Home (Rumah Grace) may do so by contacting them via email, [email protected], or via their landline, 03-31663500.
The views expressed in the contents are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of FMT.
lagi info di : Gosip Artis Terkini