Paralysed woman makes CNY baskets for home

chris@thestar.com.my

WHEELCHAIR-bound S. Thanaletchumy, was overjoyed when she received her first order for Chinese New Year baskets and flower arrangements.

It was a happy moment for the 24-year-old, who is fondly known as Chitra, when a few local folks decided to place orders for her products after seeing her works in Port Klang recently.

“I don’t know what to say, I just want to thank them for their support. This is my first job after a bad road accident three years ago,” said the former factory worker.

Chitra became paralysed from waist down after her motorbike collided with a car when she was returning home after work.

She said she had been learning flower arrangement from a volunteer at the Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled in Petaling Jaya since May last year.

Special skill: Thanaletchumy decorating a basket of mandarin oranges and cookies with flowers.

“It is challenging to make the flowers look nice and balanced in an arrangement. It takes a lot of practice. I’m so grateful for the opportunity given to me and I want to be able to work to help the home and others,” she said.
Life has not been easy for Chitra after the accident.

“Many things changed after I lost the ability to walk, including the confidence to go on with my life. I felt worthless because I could not do anything but stay at home, eat and sleep,” she said during an interview.

Chitra, whose parents passed away when she was young, said that after being depressed for about two years, she woke up suddenly one day realising that she wanted to a new chance at life.

She started calling friends to help her find a job. One of her friends took her to the Beautiful Gate last year, where she found her purpose in life. Being the only Indian in the home, Chitra said she was glad to be treated as part of the family.

Chitra is currently studying English and computer in Life College and making flower arrangements on a part-time basis.

“I hope to be a florist and be independent one day,” she said.

Beautiful Gate Foundation executive director Sia Siew Chin said Chitra was the only trainee in the home learning flower arrangement currently.

“She has shown great interest in the handiwork and completed her course within three months.

“We are proud to see her so positive and optimistic now compared to her first few months in the home. She had low confidence and self-esteem,” she said.

Sia also said Chinese New Year baskets and flower arrangements were part of the handmade products produced by the disabled members of the foundation.

The handmade products are sold to raise funds to pay for part of the home’s activities, she added.

Those who are interested to buy the Chinese New Year baskets and flower arrangements can contact the foundation’s Klang branch at 03-3373 6094 or Kapar MCA youth at 03-3343 4461. The Chinese New Year baskets with cookies and flower arrangements are priced from RM100 to RM200.

Source : http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/1/14/central/19961634&sec=central

Sin Chew Daily's “Love Without Borders” CNY Cards

For the second running, Sin Chew Daily launched its “Love Without Borders” Chinese New Year charity greeting cards.

The public can now buy these cards from Sin Chew Daily, Shuang Fu (Double Blessing) Disabled Independent Living Association, Lovely Disabled Home and Petaling Jaya Beautiful Gate Foundation For The Disabled for RM1 each.

Net proceeds will be shared among these charities. Deputy Managing Director and Group Editor-in-chief of Sin Chew Daily Siew Nyoke Chow said the “Love Without Borders” CNY greeting cards suit the local festive atmosphere. The cards can also be used as general purpose greeting cards.

"The cards can also be used as general purpose greeting cards. "

She added that one of her friends doesn't like to receive e-cards and will delete the e-cards whenever she got it. For her friend, E-cards are lacking sincerity and she treasures every paper greeting cards she receives.

The launch was attended by the General Manager of Sin Chew Daily Public Communication Department Liew Lian Seng, Deputy Chief of Sin Chew Daily Culture and Education Department Alice Tan, Operation Manager of Shuang Fu (Double Blessing) Disabled Independent Living Association Elaine Gan, administrator of Petaling Jaya Beautiful Gate Foundation For The Disabled Low Mee Li, representative of Seremban Beautiful Gate Lee Keat Pau and Director of Lovely Disabled Home K.K. Lum.
The design of these cards are from the “Joyful Festival” drawing competition organised by Sin Chew Daily previously.

Student journalists from Xue Hai have also joined in the selling of “Love Without Borders” CNY greeting cards.

Sin Chew Daily invites companies and organisations to purchase the cards to assist the charitable groups. They can print their company name on the cards. A set of 5 cards are sold at RM5. Additional fee will be charged for company name printed.

For more information, please call Sin Chew Daily Culture and Education Department at 03-7965 8560. (Translated by LEE MEI NYEE/ Sin Chew Daily)

Source : Sin Chew

支持“化礙為愛”賀卡

最近，婦女、家庭及社會發展部長拿督斯里莎麗扎在下議院提呈2007年殘障人士法案一讀，通過立法賦予殘障人士與平常人相同的各項利益，包括享有平等的教育和就職機會，以及使用基本設施、公共交通便利和醫藥福利的權利。是日，國內67個殘障團體和非政府組織的代表浩浩蕩蕩前往國會大廈，以示對該部提呈法案的支持。

在場的美門殘障關懷基金會總幹事謝秀貞則認為，由於新的殘障人士法案沒有清楚列明歧視殘障人士者是否將受到懲罰，令殘障社群感到擔憂，她表示，現有不少法令存在，往往因為沒有真正去執行而如同虛設。

換句話說，殘障人士迫切需要的是實際的資助和關愛。星洲日報在日前第二度推出“一元一卡獻愛心”活動。讀者們可向星洲日報、雙福殘障自強發展協會、愛心關懷之家以及八打靈美門職訓中心、芙蓉美門殘障藝術中心和甲洞美門殘障康復中心，購買“化礙為愛”農歷新年賀卡；以實際行動支持星洲日報貫徹“行有餘力，則以助人”的行善信念。

前年，筆者和身邊的多位朋友購買“化礙為愛”卡，寄給親友祝賀佳節，今年我們也會以上述賀卡向親朋戚友賀新年；讀者們通過星洲日報的愛心活動在歡慶新年當兒，協助殘障者關懷組織籌款，何樂而不為？ （星洲日報/溝通平台•讀者：黃懷樂•2008.01.03）

摘自：http://www.sinchew-i.com/article.phtml?artid=200801020483&data=scnews&spid=6826