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
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