Sunday, June 29, 2008

Visit to Eye on Malaysia



Special thanks to :
  • event sponsors : Alicia A Parkinson, Zhang Debra and Julia Khoo
  • all the volunteers and participants
to make this event a successful one!!

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Charitable bodies feeling pinch of price hikes

By SIM LEOI LEOI and TEH ENG HOCK

KUALA LUMPUR: Charitable bodies are beginning to feel the pinch as recent price hikes have taken a toll on donations.

Some which had been promised money for victims of the Sichuan earthquake and the cyclone in Myanmar reported that money was slow in coming.

Donations in kind like rice, milk and noodles have also decreased.

Shepherd’s Centre Foundation founder and director Pastor Jacop David said his centre had 100 children and 12 senior citizens.

“We need 50 to 60 10kg bags of rice every month. But fewer visitors are coming forward with personal contributions,'' he said in Putrajaya.

However, Pastor David said he was confident of making it through the “dry spell” as he believes there “will be a miracle”.

Beautiful Gate Foundation executive director Sia Siew Chin said the sale of merchandise had dipped by some 30% since the new price of fuel came into effect.

“We usually put up a stall to sell plants and other decorative items at the SS2 Market. Fewer people are buying them now,” she said, adding that the foundation had 11 vans to ferry the disabled to work, college or hospital.

“We can’t stop this service because it will make it hard for the disabled to go to work or school,” she said.

PAWS animal shelter manager Edward Lim said public response towards its monthly roadshows as well as adoption of strays had declined.

“Maybe people need more time to adjust to the price increases,” he said, adding that the shelter had not noticed any increase in the number of abandoned pets.

Malaysian Red Crescent Society Johor chapter deputy chairman Velasamy S. Pillay said it had yet to gauge public response to its donation drives.

“This is because we have not held one recently. However, it's been slow at donation drives for the recent disasters in Myanmar and China,” he said.

The Handicapped & Mentally Retarded Children Centre in Kuantan is facing a shortage of food items and toiletries, reports SIMON KHOO.

The centre’s caretaker A. Rose Mary said: ”Previously, we had many firms and individuals donating cash and kind every month. Of late, not many have turned up.

“We hope caring Malaysians who can afford to spare some cash will continue assisting us to maintain the centre,” she added.

Yayasan Nanyang Press executive director Ann Woo said donations were slowing down because donors were taking a breather after emptying their pockets to help Sichuan earthquake victims.

She said the higher fuel prices merely coincided with the slowdown in donations collected as it was usual for donors to go through a “buffer” period to regenerate their savings.

Woo was confident that donations would continue to pour in even in these challenging times.

Source : The Star

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Monday, June 9, 2008

Sending used bottles to Beautiful Gate


Used bottles provided by : Jazzmine Tio

Themes and observance

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- 3 December


  • 2008: "Dignity and justice for all of us"
  • 2007: "Decent work for persons with disabilities"
  • 2006: "E-Accessibility"
  • 2005: "Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Action in Development"
  • 2004: "Nothing about Us without Us"
  • 2003: "A voice of our own"
  • 2002: "Independent Living and Sustainable Livelihoods"
  • 2001: "Full participation and equality: The call for new approaches to assess progress and evaluate outcome"
  • 2000: "Making information technologies work for all"
  • 1999: "Accessibility for all for the new Millenium"
  • 1998: "Arts, Culture and Independent Living"
Source : http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=111

Dignity and justice for all of us

2008 Theme

"Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:
Dignity and justice for all of us"


Why a Convention?

A response to the fact that although pre-existing human rights conventions offer considerable potential to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities, this potential was not being tapped. Persons with disabilities continued being denied their human rights ad were kept on the margins of society in all parts of the world. The Convention sets out the legal obligations on States to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities. It does not create new rights.

Purpose of Convention

To promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

A Paradigm Shift

Persons with disabilities are not viewed as "objects" of charity, medical treatment and social protection; rather as "subjects" with rights, who are capable of claiming those rights and making decisions for their lives based on their free and informed consent as well as being active members of society.

What is Disability?

Preamble of the Convention states :

Disability is an evolving concept, and that disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.

Article 1 of the Convention states:

Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others

Disability results from an interaction between a non-inclusive society and invididuals:

Person using a wheelchair might have difficulties gaining employment not because of the wheelchair, but because there are environmental barrier such as inaccessible buses or staircases which impede access.

Person with extreme near-sightedness who does not have access to corrective lenses may not be able to perform daily tasks. This same person with prescription eyeglasses would be able to perform all tasks without problems.

General Principles

  • Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one's own choices, and independence of persons
  • Non-discrimination
  • Full and effective participation and inclusion in society
  • Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity
  • Equality of opportunity
  • Accessibility
  • Equality between men and women
  • Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities

  • Participation is important to correctly identify specific needs, and to empower the individual


Map of Signatures and Ratifications as of 8 June 2008

Source : http://www.un.org/disabilities/

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Watch A Movie - Kungfu Panda


今天大约十点,义工们在美门聚合,大约11点左右才抵达我家。原本的计划是去1 Utama的,后来改去Sunway Pyramid。我上网订了戏票,然后,Sathia就把我抱上了Serena的车。不到10分钟,我们便到了目的地。进入了停车场,唯一的残障泊车位给人用去了,唯有勉强塞在那车的旁边,然后义工们请保安先生抱我下车。

下了车,我们便到A&W聚合吃午餐,出席的义工朋友有Serena,思晴,凯宁,Jean,Sathia,Marilyn,惠婷(思晴的朋友)和五星(迟点到);残障朋友有阿财,宝仪及我。然后就去逛逛一下。差不多1点50分,我们便找电梯上去戏院,欣赏“Kungfu Panda”。

第一次来到Sunway Pyramid的TGV戏院,感觉这里后面的空间比The Mines的大好多。只是,不熟悉的人就不懂要如何把轮椅弄到戏院上去。

“Kung Fu Panda”终于上幕了,一开场就引来许多笑声……剧情就不多说了。

这部戏带给我很大的启发,其中一段话是乌龟师傅告诉熊猫的:“Yesterday is the history, tomorrow is the mystery, and today is the gift. That’s why it is called a present!”也许我的过去不怎么精彩,但我必须相信未来会有奇迹出现,而今日的阳光天使义工们,可能就是上天赐给我最好的礼物。

“There is no secret recipe, we just need to think what we do is special, then we are special.” 每个人都有自己的潜能所在,成功不需要秘诀,只要你认为你是特别的,你就会有很好的表现。我觉得这部卡通影片是一部很棒的心灵鸡汤。

真的非常感谢义工们付出了宝贵的时间、精神和爱心陪伴我们共度一个美好的星期天。这是一个很不简单的任务,可是你们却完成了。



(文稿提供:Say Leng)
(短片摘自:http://www.kungfupanda.com/)

Friday, June 6, 2008

世界宣明會撥10萬善款

甲洞美門添新貨車

飢餓30活動資訊:

1)飢餓30倒數計時活動
進行方式:各地迷你營的營員聚集一起,齊倒數饑餓30最後4個小時。
日期:8月24日
時間:中午12時至下午4時
地點:武吉加里爾國家曲棍球體育館

2)營長訓練營
進行方式:公開給有興趣舉辦饑餓30營的學校、大專、企業公司或大眾人士等營長參加。
日期:6月21日、6月28日(任選其一)
時間:上午9時至下午5時
地點:精英大學學院

(雪蘭莪‧八打靈再也)第十屆“飢餓30”與世界宣明會撥出10萬令吉善款予美門殘障關懷基金會,為甲洞美門殘障康復中心添購了一輛嶄新的箱型貨車,方便載送殘障朋友往返醫院。

改裝完畢的箱型貨車在星洲日報副文教主任陳慧嬌與馬來西亞世界宣明會執行總裁劉東源的見證下,舉行移交儀式。對此,美門關懷基金會總干事謝秀貞欣慰。

她表示,甲洞美門殘障人士大都屬於後天殘障,時常需要前往醫院看病,車子使用量很大。之前的舊貨車時常故障,造成很多不便,有了新貨車後,相信情況將有很大改善。

另外,美門關懷基金會希望有熱心的保險公司,能贊助美門旗下7個分會車子的保險費,以減輕他們每年的負擔。

第十一屆飢餓30
倒數計時活動8月舉行


第十一屆飢餓30全球人道救援行動“給孩子‘無窮’的快樂 You’ve Got The Power!”倒數計時活動,將在8月24日於武吉加里爾國家曲棍球體育館進行。

欲參加者,即日起可到星洲日報各地辦事處及馬來西亞世界宣明會辦事處領取募捐卡,或到世界宣明會網站www.worldvision.com.my下載。截止日期為7月31日。

欲知更多詳情,可撥電馬來西亞世界宣明會03-7880 6414,或瀏覽馬來西亞世界宣明會網站。

星洲日報/大都會‧2008.06.06




謝秀貞(左三)與美門團員在新貨車前合影,劉東源(左一)與陳慧嬌(右一)見證。(圖:星洲日報)



為方便殘障人士使用,車子進行了改裝,分別裝上升降機與防滑白鋼板,也拆了後椅座,車廂現可同時容納4輛輪椅。圖為謝秀貞與美門團員試用升降機。站者左起為陳慧嬌與劉東源。(圖:星洲日報)

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

DiGi美門聯手

殘障人求職不是夢

一個無障礙的工作空間,是許多殘障朋友所渴望和需要的;但是,要在現實生活中找到一個真正的無障礙環境並不容易,甚至是有點困難的。

不過,社會中還是有許多企業、公司看重殘障朋友的工作能力,愿意為他們提供一個舒適且合適的工作環境,DiGi電訊公司就是其一。在去年11月,DiGi推行“Open Mind Open Hearts”(OMOH)計劃,為殘障朋友提供培訓計劃,美門殘障關懷中心是此計劃的合作伙伴。

美門殘障關懷中心就業部主任潘銀珠表示,中心多年來都一直為殘障朋友找尋和提供工作,因此,在DiGi聯絡上他們,告知此計劃時,雙方一拍即合。

培訓課程為期4個月

在去年的首期培訓活動中,逾10名肢體殘障朋友報名參加,最後錄取了5名,她們目前都在DiGi上班。

她說,即將開始的第二期活動中,DiGi將錄取8名肢體殘障朋友,並提供為期4個月的培訓,培訓課程包括產品知識、顧客服務、個人發展和激勵課程。完成了相關課程後,則會提供12個月的在職培訓,之後會被聘請為正式員工。不過,參與者最後可也選擇夾帶在DiGi的經驗,前往其他公司上班。

她指出,在此項計劃中,DiGi並沒有設下任何的學歷要求,唯參與者必須通曉雙語和打字,因為成功被錄取者,將在客戶服務熱線部門工作。

她表示,DiGi提供合適的工作空間,殘障朋友還等甚麼呢?趕快報名參加吧!

希望其他機構仿效

對於DiGi的OMOH計劃,潘銀珠除了贊好之外,也希望國內其他機構能夠仿效。

“雖然DiGi覺得他們目前的設備還不夠完善,但比起其他的公司而言,已經很好了。其實,在首期培訓計劃進行之前,我們也曾到來觀察公司的設備,發現情況很好。另外,DiGi決定進行培訓計劃之前,也進行了一些裝修,提供我們便利。”

提及這點,她說,有些公司向中心表示有意聘請殘障朋友,可是辦公室卻處於1樓,也缺乏廁所等設備,讓中心無從下手。

張靜雲:在DiGi上班無障礙

26歲的張靜雲表示,殘障朋友上班時最擔心的就是工作地點、廁所等設備,以及泊車的問題,而在DiGi上班,這一切都不是問題。

她說,她本身的英文不是很好,一加入公司就自然感到壓力,因此她要求自己不恥下問,一旦有任何不明白,就要立即發問。不過,公司同事都很友善,所以沒有任何問題。

她表示,不是每一間公司都愿意為殘障朋友改變工作環境的設施,因此,她鼓勵殘障朋友參與OMOH培訓計劃第二期活動。

曾彩鳳:工作帶來滿足感

41歲的曾彩鳳表示,當初前往面試時只是想要嘗試而已,畢竟她因為車禍不良於行已有10年的時間了,不瞭解目前工作的要求。

她說,在面試後,DiGi人員還帶領她參觀環境,她也發現整個工作環境很不錯,加上DiGi承諾會提供應有的設備,讓她更有信心。

她指出,她自去年12月加入DiGi客戶服務熱線部門,主要負責華文環節。不過,若客戶熱線多的時候,她還是要接聽馬來文、英文的電話查詢。

她說,她以往是從事行政工作、書記等,但現在的工作要接觸許多客戶,有時候會遇上一些很高要求的客戶,不過,做久了都能夠應付。這份工作給了她滿足感,覺得自己是可以的。

她表示,此部門的工作是輪班制的,但她要求把時間固定在上午11時至晚上8時,而公司也滿足了她的要求。

對於DiGi的這項計劃,她很感動,也很感謝DiGi所給予的機會,她同時鼓勵肢體殘障的朋友勇敢面對群眾,這項計劃就是一個很好的機會。

各部門增設無障礙設備
殘障朋友安心工作


DiGi職員僱傭部門負責人葉瑞萍表示,OMOH計劃是源自挪威總部的計劃,由於國外已推行此計劃,因此,該部能夠向總部取經,做起來會較為容易。

次期計劃將錄取8人

她說,在第二期的計劃中,被錄取的8名肢體殘障朋友將在客戶服務熱線部門工作,部門的所在處已經過裝修,例如廁所、開關門等,適合肢體殘障朋友工作。目前,該部也正與公司商量,看看接下來將在哪一個部門進行裝修,以便能夠讓更多的殘障朋友加入工作。公司希望每一個部門都有殘障朋友的參與。

她提到,相比首期的培訓計劃,第二期的培訓計劃時間將來得長一些,因為公司發現短期的培訓計劃不是太好,可以再改進。同樣的,若公司發現今年的培訓計劃有任何需要改進的地方,也將在接下來的日子作出調整。

提供交通和住宿援助

她說,在培訓計劃中,包括了個人成長的課程,並不只是職業上的培訓。這一次的培訓師為了提升殘障朋友的工作機會和能力。公司也在交通和住宿上給予協助,雖然未必是直接提供住宿,不過,或許是通過提供津貼等方式協助。

詢及在整個計劃中,哪個環節對殘障朋友會較為困難時,葉瑞萍指出,公司的產品與服務環節會比較難,這主要是公司有許多不同的產品、服務等,殘障朋友必須花費較多的時間去學習,同時也必須學習如何為顧客提供服務。

提及公司同事對於殘障朋友的加入有何反應時,她說,公司同事都會比較關心她們,幫忙開門等。不過,日子久了,其實大家都是為同樣的客戶提供服務,獲得一樣的福利。

配合殘障員工
DiGi提供“體貼環境”


由於多了殘障朋友在公司工作,DiGi公司上下都多了一份“體貼”的心。不管是公司的設備,還是員工之間,大家都盡量給予肢體障礙的同事方便。

公司坐落在首邦高科技工藝園。記者走訪客戶服務熱線部門,發現此部門有許多為殘障朋友提供的無障礙空間,其中包括方便殘障朋友的傾斜式走道(原為梯級)、3個殘障人士泊車位、自動門(原為手推式),以及每一層樓層都設有殘障人士廁所。

葉瑞萍提到,雖然公司的無障礙空間(設備)仍未十分完善,但公司將逐步改進。

殘障朋友表現不錯

與此同時,客戶服務熱線部門小組組長楊佩婷表示,在此部門上班的殘障朋友表現都挺不錯的,很上進,只要有疑問就會立即發問。

“她們初加入時,我也感到壓力,不曉得是否能夠瞭解她們障礙的因由。不過,反而是她們表現得落落大方。還有,她們也不喜歡別人給予她們特別的待遇。”

Open Mind Open Hearts培訓計劃
(第二期活動)


對象:肢體殘障朋友
條件:會打字和通曉雙語
培訓期:4個月,完成培訓與考試者將獲得在DiGi達12個月的在職培訓
報名截止日期:2008年6月30日
查詢與報名:美門就業部主任潘銀珠(03-7873 6579)


摘自:星洲日报