Restaurant Long Xiang Yuan's Charity Drive.

Over the weekend, on the 4^th to 5^th August, Restaurant Long Xiang Yuan (opposite Min Kok) organized a fund raising for PBSNS. To promote the opening of the new restaurant, they decided to have a charity drive. Proceeds from the sales of organic vegetables and guava, from their farm,  were donated to PBSNS. The event was a success. They managed to raise more than RM5000! PBSNS would like to say a big THANK YOU to the restaurant for their kind and generous effort and in the process further promote our centre as well!

                 Our Chairman, Mr Peter Yew with the restaurant owner, Mr. Lim Ah Chong.

Caring Ministry of PBSNS in Society

This training held on 30th June was attended by 13 participants comprising staff, volunteers and others interested in the ministry of PBSNS.  The training gave a clear foundation on what is expected of caregivers as service providers.

Rev Paul Christie, Pastor Wesley Methodist Church Seremban introduced

Pastor Wong Moi Lee, STM adjunct lecturer as our guest speaker for the day.

Pastor Wong shared her rich experiences working with young people with learning disability.  She challenged the participants to understand caring as taking responsibility to touch lives in the context of a living relationship.  She emphasized that in order to build this relationship we must see ‘others’ as created in God’s image and appreciate the uniqueness of the ‘other’.  

The one hour dynamic talk culminated with a reflective group discussion were participants were further challenged to discuss concrete steps in order to stop dumping anger on a less  ‘privileged’ person.  Participants shared their experiences and struggles as they encouraged each other.

Betsi, PBSNS trainer, presented “PBSNS Challenge” by firstly explaining what Learning Disability is and moving on to some of the common barriers that our trainees face in learning.  She challenged participants to understand that a learning disabled person’s condition does not doom him/her to failure.  As service providers it is our responsibility to find ways to maximize the strengths of trainees in our care rather than concentrate on their weaknesses.  We must create an environment that offers these young people appropriate and sufficient support by consistent encouragement and opportunities for learning. 

Peter Yew, PBSNS chairman in closing reminded the participants that our tagline; “A Life Changing Experience” is a constant affirmation of our role as caregivers in society.

Trip to Zoo Negara

On 25^th June 22 Trainees accompanied by 7 caregivers boarded the bus to Zoo Negara. The objective of this educational tour was to create awareness and appreciation of the animal kingdom.  To ensure that trainees have a pleasant and rewarding learning experience we opted to take the “Kingdom of Animals” a guided package especially tailored for Special Needs students.

We were greeted by 3 lively Education Officers who charmed us by their warm hospitality.  In a very relaxed and friendly environment our hosts treated the trainees with their creative, interactive, story-telling sessions and simple bio-facts presentations of familiar animals.  The package also included the impressive “Multi-animal show” at the amphitheatre and the tram ride to see the overview of the zoo.

 Among the memories brought home are the following expressions:

                                “Giraffe has a long neck.”  Edwin       

                                 “Giraffe eat leaves” Meghalah

 

“Elephant use trunk and eat food” – Chong

“Elephant yau sui (swimming)” – Keng Ming

                                  

                         “Bird sit on my shoulder – I like”  - Daniel

For several trainees this was their first trip to the Zoo. 

                      For Hafeedz this was his first outing to KL with friends

        "Mor mar (touch horse)  - photo – Wash hand – NICE"!! – Keng Ming

                 For Soo Hong its “monkey”  "giraffe" “elephant”

                                "Go train (tram) enjoy!!"  - Phoon

When asked what she liked most at the Zoo, Miow Yoon replied:

“Chicken Rice - Nice!”

Thank you Chicken Rice Shop for sponsoring our lunch and partnering with us.

Indeed it was a unique, fun-filled learning experience for all trainees.

New Management Committee for 2012 - 2014

During the recent Annual General Meeting held on the 23rd June 2012, the new Management Committee was elected. They are :-

Back Row (L to R) : N. Mahendran (Committee), Chia Wing Hong (Committee), Mable Chin (Committee), Dr. Koh (Committee)
Front Seated (L to R) : Pastor Paul Christie (Advisor), Eugene Goh (Treasurer), Peter Yew (Chairman), Rebecca (Vice-Chairman), Kovalan (Secretary)

Also elected as Committee Member was Dr.Yee.

On behalf of PBSNS, we would like to welcome and congratulate them.

Trained for Challenges Ahead

The 3 newly employed trainees of PBSNS, were well prepared when opportunity came knocking at their doors. After undergoing years of training at the Chedang Café, Hidraz Shiraz, Mohammad Faizael and Chai Siew Mei had become veterans as café assistants. They were accustomed to serving food and drinks, and cleaning up after customers at the café.

Therefore, when asked to work at the Sekolah Sri Seremban as canteen helpers, they were more than excited to start their new jobs as soon as possible. Working as canteen helpers would mean serving a bigger crowd, and handling more food and drinks, they were eager to take on this challenge. Hidraz Shiraz and Mohammad Faizael started working at the school canteen on the 1^st March 2012. Chai Siew Mei, followed shortly after on the 9^th of April.

Brand new employers, brand new workplace

As canteen helpers, their job tasks are not very different compared to what they have been doing at the Chedang Café. They start work at 8am, finish at 5pm. They are required to sweep and mop, wipe tables, and wash cups and plates to serve a few hundred primary and secondary students.

All three trainees are adjusting well to their new work environment. Their favorite part of the job? Meeting and befriending new co-workers and young customers that they serve! They have already made a number of friends. All three trainees have been coping well, and have been enjoying themselves at the same time.

Passing of a Champion of the Disabled

It is with deep regrets that we learn of the passing of a Christian leader who is a passionate supporter of the disabled people. The late Mr. Edward Lee died from colon cancer as reported HERE. His contact with us was in July 2008 when he attended the thanksgiving dinner of the 10th anniversary of Pusat Berdikari Seremban on the invitation of Mr. Tony Wong, a personal friend. The picture below was taken during that function (Edward was seated left).



THIS is Edward's blog and extracted from his profile is the following information.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Lee was involved in the following achievements, done without financial funding from any political party, corporations or individuals but through cooperation and consultation with the public and working together with the municipality.

1) Malaysian Care
Lee started out voluntary work with Malaysian Care in 1985 driving children with learning disabilities to camps and outdoor activities. He was also their teacher and friend.

Through introductions by churches and friends, he later also helped people with mental illnesses, eg schizophrenia, suicidal cases and depression, by being their friend and carer.

Our condolence goes to his family on his untimely death.

Visit to Art Expo Malaysia 2011

REPORT: TRIP TO THE ART EXPO MALAYSIA 2011 AT MATRADE EXHIBITION CENTRE DATE: 31 OCT 2011

TIME

8.45am : Left PBS with trainees Daniel, Shiraz, Edwin and Chu Yi to the railway station.

Bought tickets fort them at half price with their identification cards. Each at RM6 for return trip.

11.30am: Alighted the commuter to catch the free shuttle bus service to Matrade ExhibitionCentre in Jalan KhidmatUsaha, Off Jalan Duta. KL

12noon: Arrived at Matrade, registered at entrance.. Free admission.

The art Expo was officiated by YB Dato Sri Dr.Ng Yen Yen, minister of Tourism Malaysia on Friday 28^th Oct .

There were 61 Art Galleries from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Iran, Sweden, Vietnam, India, Japan, China, HK, Taiwan, Hungary and Spain.

There are also 13 booths under Events Arcadia.

“ Rainbow In My Heart” an art competition organized by Rotary club of Bandar Utama on the 23th Oct, has a booth which exhibit the top 20 winning art pieces for sales.

Daniel and Shiraz were so happy to see their paintings on the wall. I feel happy too. It’s an achievement and encouragement too. It helps them to develop and recognize their potential imagination and creativity in art.

We took 2hours going round admiring other well-known artists.

2.00pm Took the shuttle back to KL Sentral and catch the soonest train back to Seremban. The train as crowded we had to stand till Nilai. Everyone was tired but happy.

4.00pm Arrived PBS , on time for their parents to pick them up.

Kate Siew