2016 March - Asia Community Service

RESPONSE SLIP
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I would like to be a volunteer.
I would like to make a general donation of RM _________ towards the
activities and running expenses of ACS.
I would like to donate via credit card auto billing transaction. Please send
me details.
Postal Order/Cheque No: _______________ Date: ______________
(Please make all cheques payable to Asia Community Service or direct bank
transfer to Maybank Account No 507040213362;; CIMB Account No
8004270347 or log into www.cimbclicks.com.my. All cash donations are tax
taxexempted).
Signature: _______________________________________________
Name: ___________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Tel No: _____________________ (H) ______________________ (O)
ASIA COMMUNITY SERVICE
C0-23-UP
UP Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang, Jalan Utama, 10450 Penang.
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.asiacommunityservice.org
First Step Main: 227 Jalan Pemancar, Gelugor 11700 Penang.
Phone: 04 – 6585396 Fax: 04 – 6593780 / [email protected]
Branch:: 1 Lorong Sutera Prima 4, Taman Sutera Prima, Seberang Jaya,
13700 Penang. Phone: 04–3984358 / [email protected]
Respite Care: 227A Jalan Pemancar,, Gelugor 11700 Penang
Phone: 04–6587857 / 017-4785193 / [email protected]
Stepping Stone:: 53 Jalan Baru, Pulau Betong, Balik Pulau, 110
11020 Penang.
Phone: 04 – 8665349 Fax: 04 – 8665887 / [email protected]
“Jom!” Mobile Toy Library: Mobile Phone 016 – 4487006
A Non-Profit
Profit Organisation Providing Services to People with Special
Needs, in particular reference to those with Disabilities
Incorporated in Malaysia. Reg. No. 403709K
Aktiviti ACS
For Private Circulation Only
March 2016
See Our Abilities
For one whole month from Nov 23rd - Dec 20th 2015, we held the
“Special Hands: Empowering Abilities” Exhibition at The Star Pitt
Street, George Town in collaboration with Think City Penang.
I must admit we hesitated quite a bit when we were first invited to
showcase the work of ACS Stepping Stone, Balik Pulau to the people
of George Town. Coming from a “welfare and charity” background, we
lacked the confidence not just to move from rural to urban setting, but
the know-how of putting together an attractive and worthy exhibition as
we leap into this world of arts.
We were unsure what was expected of us, we didn’t think our work was
good enough, we experienced low self-esteem and low selfconfidence. Basically, we undervalued our own abilities.
But given the encouragement and support from various people and by
taking small steps, we overcame each hurdle one by one. Everything
eventually fell into place and the one-month exhibition materialized
despite our skepticism, and was even deemed a great success.
This bold exercise enabled us to see our own capabilities and value
ourselves. We would have remained disabled and sheltered in our own
comfort zone if we had not taken up that challenge.
The scenario is similar to individuals with disabilities. Their lack of
exposure to the real world is one thing we can help overcome by
providing them with various opportunities and experiences. After all,
adventure and trials build up one’s own character and maturity.
Just be prepared for the surprises they may have in store for you!
In conjunction with International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2015, the
exhibition on “Special Hands – Empowering Abilities” was held to
showcase the handiworks of members with intellectual disabilities from the
ACS Stepping Stone Work Centre in Balik Pulau.
The exhibition brought the Stepping Stone artisans to George Town to
portray their unique skills and display their contemporary masterpieces
through the following visual art media:
Free hand Drawing and Painting
Hand weaving fabric and designs
Ceramic and Pottery
Batik painting
Handmade Paper
Handmade Soap
The main objectives of this exhibition were to
a) showcase abilities in giving hope
to families of children with disabilities
b) empower and recognize artists with differing abilities
A number of programmes including talks and workshops were held on
selected days over the course of the exhibition to raise awareness and
demonstrate abilities.
The public tried their hands on weaving using a loom; paper making from
recycled paper and plant fibre paper; sculpturing using clay; making soap
from used cooking oil; and participated in the long batik painting activity.
There was a parents’ forum as well as a public
forum on “Social Inclusion Empowerment” where
we heard powerful testimonies from people with
disabilities themselves.
The Japanese anime movie ‘Home of Acorns’,
based on a true story, was screened on Thursday
evenings. This animation depicts the struggles of
what a typical family with a special needs child
goes through.
Thank You
Thanks to many of you who encouraged us by ordering our cookies over
Hari Raya and Chinese New Year. It was hard work and plenty of sweat
but it was well worth the effort!
Thanks to those of you who are faithful customers of our Special Hands
products – soap, woven and batik items. Your appreciation of our products
increases our self-esteem.
Thanks to many volunteers and individuals who contributed your time and
effort to work alongside us through thick and thin. I believe both parties
are enriched by this partnership.
Thanks also to the many individuals and groups who believed in our work
and donated money so that our services
to the marginalised in the community can
carry on smoothly.
We look forward to your continuing support.
Warm Regards,
Khor Ai-Na
CEO
Artist Poesy Liang visited us
in January 2016 and
commissioned us to produce
some art pieces for her
gallery.
“Sometimes it is not the lack of ability
but the lack of confidence
that prevents us from achieving
what we really want.
Sometimes it’s doable,
but self-doubt makes it impossible.”
- Anonymous –
Saturday Social Club
First Step Centre
As part of the Respite Care programme, we started a trial Social Club for a
group of young adults with special needs and it was well subscribed. Club
members meet on a Saturday each month. The three trials sessions we
had comprised of outings by public transport into George Town for meals
and a movie; and also a ferry ride to Butterworth.
Last year, we graduated the biggest number of children from the First Step
Centres. A total of 30 children from both the Gelugor centre and Seberang
Jaya branch graduated after having gone through early intervention for the
past few years with us.
I think the young adults all enjoyed their little experiences of being
independent and being with friends. We keep the groups small, averaging
only about 5 youths per session with an equivalent number of volunteers.
The ratio is high as it involves outings and public places.
This solemn affair was held at Four Points Hotel and was attended by
proud family members. We are grateful to the parents’ group for
organising this successful event.
Families who are interested to send their youths with special needs (and
their siblings), please contact 04-6585396 or email [email protected]
Staff Vacancy
One of the biggest challenges in running an NGO is human resource.
Recruiting full time staff is so tough nowadays because very few people
are willing to move into such vocation.
I salute the team of staff that are currently with us, that they have
consciously chose to do this meaningful work and have remained loyal.
We are unable to compensate our staff with high salaries as we rely on
public donations and support to run the organisation. But we provide them
with a conducive work environment complete with a clientele that can be
so adorable and innocent, some of whom can be attached to demanding
families.
After each day of hard work, staff may often not receive a word of “Thank
You” from the clients. Sometimes, the outcomes and progress of the hard
work may only be noticed several years down the road. But the comfort is
that whatever challenges you face in your work is negligible compared to
your client’s difficulty.
So, if you know of anyone who fits the bill,
and would like to join the team, please
contact us at [email protected].
Jom’s New Vehicle
We were elated to be given a new vehicle for the Jom Mobile Toy Library
project. This new Proton Exora was a timely replacement for the older
vehicle which had caused much anxiety when it broke down several times
during the course of duty.
We are grateful to Dato YK Teh for initiating this campaign for a new van
with pledges collected from his circle of friends and supporters within
weeks!
The delivery of the new Mobile
Toy Library vehicle added to the
joy of the World Play Day event
which was held in Balik Pulau
for the community.
Dato YK Teh handing over the
vehicle on behalf of the donors
Harvesting Natural Resources
Artist in Residence (AiR) Programme
We have always hosted students and professionals from the social work,
education, medical and allied health disciplines such as occupational
therapy, speech therapy, psychology, dentistry etc.
About five years ago, we started to move away from the norm when we
hosted a fine arts student from Canada. He saw the potential of visual arts
abilities in our members and encouraged us to explore them in a bolder
way. Since then, despite stumbling through trial and error, we have
experienced some successes. But we think we needed some guidance to
ensure sustainability of this project.
Solar Energy - Malaysia is richly blest with sunshine
but unfortunately due to the high cost involved in
installation of panels, very few people can afford to
capitalise on the use of renewable solar energy.
In 2014, the government through SEDA (Sustainable
Energy Development Authority) launched an initiative to buy back
electricity generated through the feed-in tariff scheme from NGOs who
install solar panels on the rooftop of their buildings
We are grateful to ERS Energy who sponsored the installation of 98
pieces of solar panels on the rooftop of Stepping Stone Centre, and
enabled us to enter the year 2016 with renewed greener energy!!
Rainwater – Our annual rainfall in Penang is 100
inches (250cm) on the average; and the rate of
processed water is so cheap that people tend
to waste water unnecessarily.
Please visit our
website for more
details.
Therefore in December, we launched the Artist in Residence @ Stepping
Stone programme. This is an invitation call to emerging as well as
established artists, to stay with us for a specific period of time and work
alongside our members with intellectual disabilities in Balik Pulau.
This AiR programme will also provide them with the cultural experience as
they get immersed into the local culture, food and living.
The Stepping Stone Centre uses a considerable
amount of water in our daily work and activities
such as batik washing and yarn dyeing.
Sometimes, it seems like a sin to use consumable water for such
purposes including hosing the garden!
As such, in February we decided to
install two giant 800L water tanks to
harvest rainwater from our rooftops.
However small, we must do our part for
mother earth by utilising its rich
resources and reducing wastage.
Asniza with two of her
“Flower Baby” paintings
which were sold off during
the Special Hands
Exhibition.
Installation of giant water
tanks by Volunteers from
Toshakyo