Ten participants of the inaugural Lions Engineering and Drafting Services (LEADS) programme, among them seven physically-disabled individuals and three transsexuals, received their course certificates at a graduation ceremony recently.
Of the 10, two have successfully found jobs in the workforce.
Tham Meng Poh and Elisha Kor will undergo a three-month training stint at Minconsult Engineering Consulting’s office in Petaling Jaya and Ipoh respectively.
Kor, who was accompanied by her entire family, said: “I am definitely one of the luckier ones as not many families are willing to care for their disabled or transsexual child. My family has taught me how to be strong while the LEADS programme has given me the opportunity to be independent.”
Loh (left) presenting wheelchairbound Tham with his graduation certificate.
As for Tham, he said LEADS had helped him to discover that nothing was impossible with hard work.
Among those present at the graduation ceremony were Kelana Jaya MP Loh Seng Kok, Lions Club members, HATI committee members, representatives from Beautiful Gate for the Disabled, Rumah WAKE and various NGOs, Minconsult and Taylor’s College staff.
The LEADS programme is a collaboration between five organisations the Lions Club of Kuala Lumpur (West), HATI, Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled, Rumah WAKE and Taylor’s College Petaling Jaya.
It was initiated to offer the disabled and transsexuals the opportunity to undergo practical training in basic engineering drafting and computer skills training.
Kok Hee Poh, programme organiser and HATI core member said physically-challenged individuals and transsexuals were chosen for the programme as both groups were deprived of access to education.
“Many schools cannot accommodate the needs of the disabled, especially those in wheelchairs due to physical constraint, accessibility and mobility. As for the transsexuals, many of them are misunderstood and treated unfairly by others because of their physical features and mannerisms.
“I believe LEADS is a feasible option that allows them to acquire the much needed skills to enter the job market,” said Kok.
A collaboration effort among five organisations – the Lions Club of Kuala Lumpur (West), HATI, Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled, Rumah WAKE and Taylor’s College Petaling Jaya, LEADS was initiated to offer the disabled and transsexuals the opportunity to undergo practical training in basic engineering drafting and computer skills training.
Of the ten, two participants have successfully gained entry into the workforce industry.
Tham Meng Poh and Elisha Kor will undergo a 3-month training at the design office in Petaling Jaya and site office in Ipoh respectively with Minconsult Engineering Consulting – one of the largest engineering consulting companies in this country.
Kor, who arrived with her entire family in tow, credited the love and support she received at home as the greatest factor that gave her the courage to go the distance.
“I am definitely one of the luckier ones as not many families are willing to care for their disabled or transsexual child. My family has taught me how to be strong while the LEADS programme has given me the opportunity to be independent,” said Kor.
As for Tham, he said LEADS has helped him discovered that with hard work, nothing is impossible.
“I am grateful to our trainers for their time and effort in preparing us for the workforce industry. While sceptics might doubt the possibility of us achieving so much within the 3-month training period, I am living proof that success can be acquired if you try hard enough,” said Tham proudly.
Among those present at the Graduation Ceremony included Loh Seng Kok, Member of Parliament for Kelana Jaya, Lions Clubs members, HATI committee members, representatives from Beautiful Gate for the Disabled, Rumah WAKE and various NGOs, Minconsult and Taylor’s College staff.
According to Lion David Yoong, Lions Club of Kuala Lumpur (West) President, the LEADS programme is one of the many projects organised by this Club to aid the disadvantaged in society.
“The programme has been specially designed to help participants gain the practical skills to succeed in life. However, it is important that they take the first step, and walk the path themselves in order to prove to others that they can do it,” said Yoong.
Kok Hee Poh, programme organiser and HATI core member said physically-challenged individuals and transsexuals were chosen for the programme as both groups are deprived of access to education.
“Many schools cannot accommodate the needs of the disabled, especially those in wheelchairs due to physical constraint, accessibility and mobility. As for the transsexuals, many of them are misunderstood and treated unfairly by others because of their physical features and mannerisms. I believe LEADS is a feasible option that allows them to acquire the much needed skills to enter the job market,” said Kok.
According to Pradeep Nair, Taylor’s College Petaling Jaya COO, it is important for everyone to be ever conscious of those in need, and not let charity be an occasional affair.
“Besides taking the lead in performing community services, it is equally important for educators to teach students about the importance of giving back to society. Compassion and empathy are essential traits in order for our youth to take their productive place as leaders in the global community,” said Pradeep.
Following the success of LEADS’ first batch of participants, LIONS Club, HATI and Taylor’s College have launched the second intake. This will give the less fortunate more opportunities to get a head start in life.
Applications are now open, and interested candidates are advised to send in their forms before September 22.
Training commences October 3, 2006, with classes held twice a week for 3 months, after office hours. Classes are conducted by LEADS volunteers and trainers, and students must attend all 24 classes and complete 10 assignments in order to be eligible for graduation.
For more information, contact Lion David Yoong at 012 – 391 3981, Kok Hee Poh at 013 – 390 4291 or Azura Abdullah at 7876 3939 (Taylor’s College).
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia prides itself as a caring society, but its public transport system has been described as “shockingly disabled-unfriendly”.
And this censure comes from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, the ministry responsible for the welfare of the disabled, no less.
“I am shocked that disabled citizens, especially those who are wheelchair-bound, are unable to utilise public transport because little effort has been made to enable them to move about easily,” said parliamentary secretary Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.
“I think it is relevant that we keep public facilities and public transport disabled-friendly, and every one has a role to make this a reality, including transport providers and local councils.”
ENABLING THE DISABLED: Chew receiving a complaint from wheelchair-bound citizens near the Bangsar LRT bus station during a campaign protesting against an insensitive public transport system.
She said this at the Bangsar LRT station yesterday after witnessing a campaign to highlight problems faced by the physically disabled in using public transport.
During the campaign, some 30 wheelchair-bound people showed that it was impossible for them to get into a bus because of the steps and the fact that the door was too narrow for a wheelchair.
The campaign was organised by the Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled, Society of Chinese Disabled Persons Malaysia, Damai Disabled Persons' Association of Selangor and the Federal Territory and Malaysian Spinal Injuries Association.
Beautiful Gate executive director Sia Siew Chin said the disabled community was frustrated that repeated calls to make public transport disabled-friendly had long been ignored.
She cited the launch of Areas 5 & 6 of Rapid KL's new system on Saturday, noting that the new buses used to cover routes in Klang, Shah Alam, Subang Jaya, Damansara, Petaling Jaya, and Puchong did not address the needs of disabled people.
“Many often forget that we have rights too – and here we are talking about basic rights such as that to move about freely.
“We hope the Government will place some emphasis on our needs because we want to live independently and not be a burden to anyone,” she said.
Disabled people, she added, often had to rely on taxis but many taxi drivers refused to accept wheelchair-bound passengers.
According to her, the Kelana Jaya (formerly Putra) LRT line allows easy access while KTM Komuter is also accessible with some help but the other LRT lines and KL Monorail have “ignored our needs”.
Rapid KL corporate communications senior manager Katherine Chew said the company planned to import 100 buses with ramps that would enable boarding by wheelchair-bound passengers by December.
KUALA LUMPUR: Chan Ming Lai spent the first few years of his life watching the world from a wooden crate meant for soft drinks bottles, in a corner of a hawker stall.
He never went to school, and could only watch as other children ran and played around the chap fan (economy rice) stall where his mother worked.
He is a cerebral palsy sufferer who can only turn his head and move his left hand.
Today, he counsels other people with disabilities for the Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled. Chan, 36, is one of 40 residents of the foundation’s home in Petaling Jaya.
"We don’t want people to see us as charity cases. We want people to accept us as part of society," said Sia Siew Chin, an executive director of the foundation.
Sia, like Chan, is wheelchair-bound. Muscular dystrophy runs in her family.
Beautiful Gate takes its name from a Biblical story in the Acts of the Apostles, where a lame beggar was healed by John and Peter.
The foundation’s five homes in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia are run by its 150 residents. It gives the disabled skills and education, and trains them to counsel others.
Beautiful Gate society was one of last year’s nominees for Team Humanitarian, a category in the NSTP-PwC Malaysian Humanitarian Awards.
One of the foundation’s programmes, Let Love Grow, was its first attempt to reach out to those who felt suicidal, through a series of talks last year.
"Learn to love yourself" — that was its main message to those without hope.
Chan used to feel intensely sorry for himself. After living in the home for a year, he struck out on his own, supporting himself by selling lottery tickets in Kepong to passers-by. One day, he was robbed.
"No one came to my aid. I felt helpless," he said.
The experience drove him to despair. Then he realised that his fellow residents were determined to find a role for themselves.
"They were so optimistic. I asked myself why I could not be like them."
So he set himself a goal: to love himself. He realised that he had to love himself before he could love others.
For the third year, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd and PricewaterhouseCoopers are looking for nominees for the Malaysian Humanitarian Awards.
NSTP and PwC are looking to honour Malaysians who have gone beyond the call of duty and served the public selflessly. Nominations are open until Sept 11.
For information and forms, log on to www.nstp.com.my or pwc.com.my, or call 03-2282-3131 ext 2740.
李景源已接受專業的充墨培訓，現在他已能獨當一面。
.JPG)
