Sun Life Malaysia Launches the Brighter Health Program with HOPE worldwide Malaysia

14 April 2018, Sun Life Malaysia Launches the Health & Wellness Program with HOPE worldwide Malaysia 

Stepping into the 5th consecutive year as a CSR Partner, Sun Life Malaysia launches the Brighter Health Campaign for 20 pairs of parents and their children, to embark a one-year journey in helping them to live a healthier lifestyle through a bi-monthly physical workout program and as well a consistent health check on BMI & Blood Sugar Level at our Free Clinic.

This year, apart from just targeting the youths and children, we include their parents as part of the journey in pursuing a healthy and active lifestyle! In this journey, both the parents and children can encourage each other and as well keep each other accountable in cultivating healthier lifestyle, making better choices in their diet.

We wanna thank Sun Life Malaysia for your tremendous effort in your crusade in helping our community to cultivate healthy & active lifestyle through many thoughtful programs. And this year, you have just called our community a level higher in taking care of their physical health. We look forward to see their progress in coming months!

For more event photos, check them out on our Facebook page by clicking into: Sun Life Malaysia Launches Brighter Health Program 2018

Do you like our story? You can be a part in our crusade to helping the underprivileged by clicking HERE to make a donation.

Bringing HOPE Changing LIVES

Astro Kasih and KPMG Volunteers in Deepavali Food Distribution Program

14 October 2017, Astro Kasih & KPMG Volunteers in Deepavali Food Distribution Program

A total of 20 volunteers from Astro Kasih & KPMG dedicated their time to reach out to 100 families through the Food Distribution Program. And as well, this is the Food Distribution Program we dedicated as a Deepavali Celebration to all of our beneficiaries.

As Mid-Autumn Festival has just over, besides distributing groceries and basic necessities, we have boxes of Mooncakes sponsored by Berjaya Cares Foundation to be distributed to these families.

Thanks to these handful of volunteers, we have had a memorable and fruitful Saturday spent in Food Distribution Program.

For more event photos, check them out at our Facebook page by clicking into: Food Distribution Program with Astro Kasih and KPMG Volunteers

Do you like our story? You can be a part in our crusade to helping the underprivileged by clicking HERE to make a donation.

Bringing HOPE Changing LIVES

Youth and Campus Volunteers Bring Passion and Joy from Taiwan

19 July 2017, Tian Yi Corporation Volunteerism Day with HOPE worldwide Malaysia

A Group of 13 youth volunteers from 9 different high schools and universities in Taiwan flew all the way to Malaysia, to spend a Day of Volunteerism with us!

We kicked start the day with the inspiring Community & Volunteerism Talk for the volunteers to get motivation and inspiration from the life changing videos of our beneficiaries, and most importantly, to let the fellow volunteers to have a better understanding about the community we are helping, and the social issues we are tackling. We also get to share the community programs our colleagues in HOPE worldwide Taiwan are doing both in Taiwan and Cambodia.

It was a fruitful session as we also exchange a lot of ideas during the Q&A session by the end of the talk. These 13 youths and campus students are also championing their own volunteerism and community projects in their own schools. Some of these youths are as young as 15 years old. We are so privilege to listen and learning from them about innovation and sustainability.

After the talk, we depart to our Sentul Free Clinic of HOPE to begin our spring cleaning activities. We were so grateful for these passionate and energetic bunch of volunteers who gave a new breath and environment for our Free Clinic after the spring cleaning.

In the afternoon, we have 12 kids from our community who came to our centre after their school. The volunteers had lunch together with these kids before we began our Card Coloring Activity. Although the volunteers and kids have language barrier, but what kept them connected was the smile from the volunteers' faces for the kids. Right after the Ice-Breaking Session, we had the kids and volunteers assigned into groups of 2 or 3 persons, as both kids and volunteers are going to make cards for one another. It was encouraging to see some of the kids trying to strike conversation with the volunteers hence our facilitator was there to translate for both kids and volunteers. It was a heartwarming session as both volunteers and kids complete making their cards and present to one another.

Hence it is so true that you don't need to know a lot of knowledge nor languages to connect with different people. You just need a heart full of love and joy. Thanks to the fellow volunteers and staff from Tian Yi Corporation for inspired us with your passion and joy! Keep up your good works in Taiwan to bring greater impact for your nation. Hope to see you all again!

For more event photos, check them out at our Facebook page by clicking into: 2017 Taiwan Youth ans Campus Volunteers Volunteerism Day

Bringing HOPE Changing LIVES

Sukarna's Story - From Darkness to Light

For Sri Lankan refugee Sukarna, HOPE worldwide had given her a second chance to start anew. She had been afflicted by malnourishment and depression; her sunken eyes and skinny complexion were a sight of sorrow. Her problem was compounded by the fact that she is a refugee from Sri Lanka and could only speak Tamil.

In 2009, after enduring a civil war which devastated their homeland, tragedy hit Sukarna’s family as her husband was shot in the head. After being shot, he fell into a coma. Though he recovered a year later but continue to suffer from frequent convulsions as a result of the injury. He eventually succumbed to being paralyzed but regain consciousness after further treatments. "I spent all our savings for his treatments. I was very sad that he was bed-ridden nevertheless,” she said. Since her husband became paralyzed, she and her two daughters Sarukkah and Kuilini lost the protection of a husband and a father. That’s when she faced severe stigma and discrimination from the society and life was so unsafe for her and her daughters. Her husband helplessly urged her to leave the country together with the daughters to start a new life in Malaysia. With much sorrows, Sukarna bid farewell with her husband without knowing if there will be a chance to see him again.

She and her family came to Malaysia hoping to start a new life with the help from her uncle here, but her hopes were dashed as her uncle passed away due to heart attack two months after she arrived here. It was almost too cruel to contemplate, but it was not to be the end of the world for her.

Just when she needs all the help she can get, Sukarna found relief in the free clinic in Sentul, which provided her medication. She also signed up for the food distribution program by HOPE worldwide which helped her and her daughters to stave off hunger. And just to make sure she can overcome the trauma of losing the loved ones in her life, the clinic also referred her for to get counselling help from professionals.

Sukarna, now in better health and a more cheerful person, thanked HOPE worldwide for treating her with more than basic respect.

"I want to thank HOPE worldwide once again from the bottom of my heart for giving me and my daughters the incredible privilege of being served. I wish I was the one had fallen instead of my husband, so that we don’t have to run away from our homeland. But only God knows and everything happened for a reason,” she said.

The most immediate priority, once she's had some time to settle down, she said, is to work as a tailor once again. "I want to start making clothes again.

Hence, the story doesn't end here. Thanks to our volunteer, Mr. Jeyapalan who met Sukarna at our Sentul Free Clinic of HOPE. After hearing her story, without much hesitation, Mr. Jeya decided to contribute the cost of a new sewing machine for Sukarna so she can start a new life by having a job to earn a living, to rebuild her family.

On 16 March, we delivered the Sewing Machine to Sukarna's home. 

Now, Sukarna also wishes to see that her daughters are doing fine. "I want to see that they have what they need to face the road ahead,"” she said. She also hopes that one day they could reunite with her husband again.

Check out the video which concluded the above event on our YouTube Channel: http://bit.ly/2mWOQMH

Bringing HOPE Changing LIVES

Food Distribution Program with Volunteers from Berjaya Cares Foundation (Mr. Morvin Tan)

18 February 2017, Food Distribution Program with Mr. Morvin Tan (Berjaya Cares Foundation)

Thanks to Mr. Morvin Tan, (Executive Director of Berjaya Assets Berhad and COO of Berjaya Times Square) and his sister Chrystal Tan, who brought their friends along to spend their weekend to volunteer in the Food Distribution Program that impacted 100 families.

Besides volunteering in the Food Distribution Program, Mr. Morvin Tan and his friend made a total donation of RM 6,300.00 to our organization. We are so grateful for their generosity, apart from the donations, they have contributed their time and energy too.

We would like to thank DENSO Malaysia as our Corporate Sponsor for the Food Distribution Program in the month for February.

For more event photos, check them out at our Facebook page by clicking into: Berjaya Group Volunteers at Food Distribution Program

Bringing HOPE Changing LIVES

MaybankHeart first Crowdfunding Campaign - Health Screening and Early Prevention for the Urban Poor

Thanks to all generous donors who supported our very first Crowdfunding Campaign on MaybankHeart, because of your donations, we manage to kick start the Health & Wellness (Health Screening for early prevention through Blood Test) Campaign since the month of November. As of December, 22 patients were benefited from the Blood Test screening. And the numbers continue to grow! Our gratitude also goes to Maybank who provides and establish this crowdfunding platform for us and many other NGOs!

One fine afternoon, Fazreena came to our clinic to seek medical consultation about her health condition. And we discovered she has an abnormally high blood sugar level, hence we conducted the Blood Test screening on her. Eventually, the blood test result shown that she is a high-risked diabetic patient. Then immediately we started a series of treatment, advice on her diet for prevention and monitor her situation continuously.

Fazreena is a Single Mother who has three children who are 19, 18 and 12 years old expressed her gratitude for the Health and Wellness Campaign has saved her from the destructive health condition at the nick of time.  Early prevention steps has secured Fazreena’s health for her to continue to work to earn a living and support her children’s education.

Lallitha who has been coming to the Free Clinic since two years ago has just become one of the beneficiaries of the Health and Wellness Campaign. Lallitha, 51 years old, has no awareness about her health condition until our doctor conducted the blood test on her that she is diagnosed as a hypertension and diabetes patient. Lallitha was grateful for the Health and Wellness Campaign that saves her from a worsen stage of her health, as her husband is working as a lorry driver, and his salary could only be sufficient to support the family’s daily living. Subsequently, the consistent and free-of-charge early prevention treatment has secured a peace of mind for her and the family.

Missed our first campaign? Right now we are running another crowdfunding campaign on MaybankHeart as we are raising funds to refurbish the rural boarding school at SK Kambug, click in here to find out more: http://maybankheart.com/

Bringing HOPE Changing LIVES

The Spirit of Chinese New Year with the Sentul Community

14 February 2016, Chinese New Year Goodies Distribution by Mr. SY Lai and Friends at Sentul Free Clinic of HOPE

The first Chinese New Year goodies distribution was initiated by Mr. SY Lai's father. It was about 5 years ago. Since then, Mr. SY Lai and his friends has made this as a Chinese New Year routine, every year without fail, giving ang pao, groceries, candies and mandarin oranges to 150 Sentul low income families.

Mr. SY Lai and friends have taught us the true spirit of Chinese New Year. To give and blessed than to receive. Mr. Lai and his friends take this opportunity to give and to serve the needy ones.

This year, the distribution day falls on the 7th Day of Chinese New Year, which is also the Valentine's Day. It makes the day even more meaningful and memorable. Because Valentine's Day reminds us about love for one another. Indeed we have so much love to give and share with those who are less fortunate than us.

It was a hot Sunday afternoon as we have 150 families gathered at the Sentul Free Clinic of HOPE, to received the Ang Pao and Groceries from Mr. Lai and his friends.

Some of the families who were the recipients since the first day Mr. Lai's father initiated the CNY Goodies Distribution, and they were very grateful to able to share the joy and happiness of this festive season. Among the beneficiaries, are some senior citizens who stayed by themselves, and this gesture of love by Mr. Lai and his friends meant a lot to them.

Thank you Mr. Lai and your friends who are always here for us and for our community in Sentul! We wish you all to have a fruitful year ahead.

For more event photos, check them out at our Facebook page by clicking into: CNY Goodies Distribution 2016 by Mr. SY Lai and Friends

Bringing HOPE Changing LIVES

Retired nurse keeps working to serve the poor

For senior citizen Mona Chin, nursing is not just a career but a calling to help the poor and needy.

Having worked for more than 30 years as a nurse before retiring, Chin had initially felt that her work was far from done.

After her retirement, Chin, now 72, began using her time and energy to serve people in need.

“I don’t worry about money or not being able to enjoy my sunset years

“If I can do just this much by serving them in a compassionate, respectful way, my life will be more meaningful,” she told The Rakyat Post. 

Chin currently is the nurse as well as the clinic manager of the HOPE worldwide Malaysia’s Free Clinic in Sentul, founded in 2000 to provide free medication and consultation.

Hope Worldwide Malaysia is a branch of Hope Worldwide, an international non-profit, non-religious, charity organisation based in the United States.

The clinic has grown to serve more than 56,000 underprivileged patients to date.

Trained in the United Kingdom, Chin began as a nurse at Universiti Hospital in Petaling Jaya before moving on to work at Singapore’s Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

“It was 15 years ago. I was in Kuala Lumpur to visit my brother and that was when I chanced upon an advertorial in a newspaper by a charitable organisation, looking for a trained nurse.

“Helping the poor and needy was something I thought about a great deal. I thought that this would be the opportunity for me to give with both hands and overflowing heart.

“I have held in my hands all that the world can give. In return, I want to give and give generously,” she said.

Although Chin’s efforts are concentrated in Sentul, her work speaks to the larger issue of urban poverty in Kuala Lumpur, where slum areas inhabited by people who come under the Poverty Line Income (PLI) group continue to exist while the number of homeless people has risen almost two-fold.

She hoped her contribution would help inspire people to help the less fortunate on their own free will.

“Volunteerism for the common good can move and alter people in subtle ways because, like love, it speaks through and to the heart,” said Chin.

Mona's undying passion continues to burn as she eventually took up the role as a Trainer, empowering Youths in the Clinic Apprentice Program, a Youth Empowerment Program that aims to train youths from 18 to 25 years old, who are interested in securing a career in medical related fields.

Article written by our volunteer, Mr. Fernando Fong, who is a Senior Reporter of The Rakyat Post. Click here to read the original post: Retired Nurse keeps working to serve the Poor

Bringing HOPE Changing LIVES

Youth Empowerment: Open up Doors of Opportunities - The Clinic Apprentice Program

“Since I was young, I have been receiving free medication at the Free Clinic. Right now, I couldn’t believe that I am getting training here in the Free Clinic for job opportunities in medical-related fields in the future,” said Hamasevanni, 19, who shared her heartfelt feelings with tears when asked about being selected to join The Clinic Apprentice Program.

In 2015, the Sentul Free Clinic of HOPE is also a platform for underprivileged youths aged from 18 to 25 years old to venture into medical-related fields through empowerment, training and job creation.

The Objectives of this program are:

1. Provide a platform to expose these youth to the opportunities of employment in the healthcare system by skilled and experienced health personnel. 
2. Identify the youth who are interested in pursue of a career in healthcare during the apprenticeship. 
3. Provide guidance (e.g. career counselling, corporate scholarship, references or training) for education and/or employment to potential youth depending on qualifications. 

After graduated from the program, the youths who are interested to venture into jobs in medical related fields, they will be recommended to hospitals and clinics. And also we would seek for financial support for some of these youths who would like to further studies in this field.

The Clinic Apprentice Program also offers Basic First Aid Training provided by Professional Instructor

Our Call for The Clinic Apprentice Program:

We call for support from 
(a) Hospitals, Medical Clinics and Medical Schools to be Our Partners in providing more training, employment opportunities and Scholarships to further studies.
(b) Corporate and Individual Donors by way of monetary donation to continue sustaining the Sentul Free Clinic of HOPE’s operations.

In aid to reduce income disparities and tackle youth unemployment rates, the Clinic Apprentice Program is the first step HOPE worldwide Malaysia takes to empower our underprivileged youths. Moving forward, we aim to collaborate with more corporate companies from various fields and industries so to create more training programs and job opportunities.

Contact Us:
Should you want to know how you can be a part of this great cause, please call us at 03-4050 2541 or send in your email to Ms. Katy Lee at katylee@hopeww.org.my

Bringing HOPE Changing LIVES