PROJECTS

Free tuition classes for needy kids

Happy ending: KCHFand F&N; representatives posing for a group shot with the children.

A GROUP of children from PPR Pangsapuri Enggang in Bandar Kinrara,Puchong are able to attend kindergarten and tuition classes for free.

This has been made possible through a collaboration between F&N; Dairies Malaysia and Kassim Chin Humanity Foundation (KCHF).

The F&N; Empowering Lives Through Education (Elite) programme is working with children from over 600 households at a tuition centre located in the flats. They range in age from five to 20.

The Elite programme was established in 2011 to empower underprivileged children and their families to rise above their conditions and strive for a better future.

Food aid is also provided in the form of F&N; milk products. To-date, over 250 children have benefited.

“We are honoured to be working with KCHF to provide equal educational opportunities for children in this area,” said F&N; Dairies Malaysia managing director Tan Hock Beng.

“Instead of starting something new, we felt that the objectives of Elite were better served by throwing our weight behind this foundation, which holds similar values and objectives and is also in need of financial assistance and resources.”

For 15 of these children, the future looks a lot brighter after they graduated from the Foundation’s kindergarten course.

Families of the children, teachers and representatives from F&N; Dairies Malaysia celebrated the children’s graduation, It was a proud moment for the families as they watched the children receive their diplomas dressed in red and white uniforms complete with mortarboard. Special prizes were also given out to top students.

“These children did not have the educational opportunities we take for granted.“Our objective is to help them develop a strong foundation and build a better life for themselves so they can get themselves and their families out of this situation,” said KCHF executive trustee Miliee Kassim.

The audience was treated to several cultural dances from the children, including poetry and pantun recitals, and a fashion show, all performed by the young students of KCHF.

F&N; Dairies Malaysia also presented the KCHF with a contribution of RM60,000 for the KCHF’s Pangsapuri Enggang tuition centre.

Among the graduates was six-year-old Priyashamini, who paid tribute to her teachers. “I’m very happy today! I want to continue my studies in school and grow up to be a teacher as well,” she said excitedly.

Five-year-old Yashini is one of the children currently enrolled at the centre. “Since our daughter joined the centre, her English has improved, she speaks better,” said her proud parents. “Like other children, she watches cartoons but prefers reading books. She learnt all this at the centre.”

KCHF’s Pangsapuri Enggang tuition centre was the first of five KCHF centres to be established and currently has an enrolment of 165 children from pre-school to secondary school.

The teaching staff are mostly residents themselves, many with their own children enrolled at the centre. The centre also extends its assistance to the children’s mothers, offering activities such as tailoring classes on the weekends as well as an annual camping trip in Semenyih for the children and their parents.

Due to their disadvantaged backgrounds, educational standards among the children of Pangsapuri Enggang were dire before KCHF established their tuition centre there in 2006.

The positive impact of the KCHF centre is evident in graduates such as Induja and Kuganeswary, both from flats who are now continuing their education.

“KCHF helped me with my early education and I’m now moving on to college. I want to be a teacher as well, with the aim of opening my own kindergarten so that I can help other children just as KCHF helped me,” said Induja.

Kuganeswary, who is currently taking a course in Electrical & Electronic engineering, said: “The teachers at the Foundation helped me so much and took care of my mother as well.

“The centre teaches us discipline, leadership and provides us the support we need to excel in our studies. I am thankful to our teachers and will help others just as they helped me.”