Farewell, Pastor Paul

The management committee held its final meeting for the year today and its spiritual adviser, Rev. Paul Christie, attended the meeting for the last time, and gave many views about the work of the centre. Pastor Paul has been our adviser since 2005 and had offered invaluable advice. At the end of the meeting the committee presented him parting gifts of a hand made card pre-signed by trainees, staff, volunteers and committee members; a cake baked for his family; and a set of hand made cards and towel animals made by the trainees. The committee wish him all our best. Next year the incoming pastor of the church, Pastor Ronald, will be our new spiritual adviser.

Year End/Christmas Party

It has become our tradition to hold a year end/Christmas party for the trainees in particular and with staff, volunteers, committee and parents in general, to celebrate Christmas and look forward to a good year ahead. This year's event was held on December 13 (Thursday) at the centre and was well attended by 80 participants comprising trainees (22), parents (14), staff (3), volunteers (15), committee (5), guests (14) and helpers to lead in singing and games (7). The event kicked off at noon and two trainees, Sasthri and Daniel, were our masters of ceremony. Chairman Peter Yew welcomed all the guests. Corporate sponsors, Careplus Group and SCQ Industries, via their representatives, made donation cheques for the centre's work. Peter also inform the guests that Pastor Paul Christie will attend the party for the last time as he will be on transfer to another church in Penang from January 1, 2013. We arose to sing Auld Lang Syne to bid him farewell. Pastor Paul also help give away gifts to the trainees donated by Rev. Joseph Yesupatham of the Penang Tamil Methodist Church. And students from the D'Nous Academy liven the atmosphere by leading the trainees in a time of singing and dancing which they enjoyed very much. Below are some pictures recorded.

MARGMA visits PBSNS

The president of the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association or MARGMA, Mr. K.S. Lim, visited the centre with 2 staff from the Secretariat, to understand our work as well as distribute souvenir bags to the trainees. The visitors were briefed by the chairman, Mr. Peter Yew, and shown round the centre. It is our hope that MARGMA will help disseminate our brochures to member companies to create greater awareness of our work in helping the learning disabled empower themselves to become self reliant through training and employment.