A FATHER'S BRAVE JOURNEY WITH HIS TWO BOYS

I emailed Yong (Shiok Guy)this morning to get the status of the centre and the fund we set up. This was his reply:

The center has closed down and all the kids are now mostly at home, including my 2 boys. For my boys they still go to special class in the morning and I am teaching them at home at this moment.

All the computer, table, equipment and teaching material from the old center are now stacked in my house. A group ( 4 families) of us are looking for a house to start a center. But frankly we don't really have the budget and I am worried we have to keep coming to the public asking for donation. I don't think it is right.

But we are determined to go ahead with a center for our kids to go to, which may be initially funded by this 4 families and we will be taking turns teaching our kids. Once we are on track, then we will open the door for all the 16 kids from the center. Most of them are not from a well-off families.

Currently we intend to rent a low cost house, around RM700.00 and will be shared among the 4 families first. Since this is a private initiative for a start, I don't feel right to take the donation intended for the old center.

I have collected RM1560, and all the donor are anonymous and I am not sure how to return the money. Can I transfer my RM1560 to you and added to your RM5020. and then you decide which charity to donate it to.

For those who donate the PC and Piano, If they don't mind and I do appreciate to keep them for the new center that we are going to have.

In Summary..

1. Old center decided to close down, we failed to save it
2. 20 kids have no center to go
3. We need to setup a new center, private or NGO.
4. Lack of Time and Fund
5. 4 Families decided to start a center, whatever it is called.
6. Old Center equipment and material are stacked in my house
7. Total donation collected = 5020 + 1560 = RM6580
8. But this is for the Old Center. Can we use for the New?
9. The New Center might be funded by 4 families.
10. Once we can sustain the cost, open door to the 16 kids
11. Parents are going to be the teacher
12. We are well trained to teach our sons.
13. Status: Looking for a suitable low cost house to rent.

Bernard, what is your advice to me?

I replied that I have not aggressively pursued this effort and told him that we should give it another shot and not to give up.I also ask him to keep whatever is donated.

His reply:

Bernard, when it comes to my kids and injustice I never give up. I will still go ahead with the center but I might not be able to afford to hired teacher. We the parent will be the one teaching our kids. We will start with 4 families contributing and once we have enough fund, we will extend to others (The remaining 16 kids)

The current fund will help to pay for the renting + deposit of the center. We will still have to find way to earn income to make the center self funded. For the time being the 4 families will fund and also be the teacher. We will try to bring in the 16 others kids too, if time and finance allow.

The most important thing is to make sure the centre can be self funded from fee payable by those parent who can afford.

Regards

Yong Yek Ming
Shiok Guy

Known as Shiok Guy in the blogosphere, Yong Yek Ming (centre) is a loving and dedicated father to sons Wei Xiang (left) and Wei Jie (right), who are autistic

YES, THE CENTRE IS LOST
BUT THE CAUSE IS NOT LOST.

LET'S GIVE THIS CAUSE ONE MORE SHOT.
GET YOUR FRIENDS TO GIVE A HELPING HAND.

LET ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO THANK THOSE WHO DONATED THUS FAR.
SHIOK GUY AND I FULLY APPRECIATE
YOUR GENEROSITY. THIS ROUND PROBABLY
YOU COULD ENCOURAGE YOUR FRIENDS
TO GIVE US A HAND.

ONE MORE THANK YOU TO THE BLOGGERS
WHO PUT UP THIS APPEAL
ON THEIR SIDE-BAR.